Written by by David Thomas at reuters.com
April 4 (Reuters) – John Eastman, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, has asked a California state judge to pause her order temporarily prohibiting him from practicing law, arguing it could affect his ability to fund his criminal defense in Georgia.
Judge Yvette Roland of California’s State Bar Court last week said Eastman should be stripped of his law license over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election on Trump’s behalf.
California’s professional rules state that lawyers who are recommended for disbarment are transferred to involuntary inactive status until the California Supreme Court rules on their case.
Eastman, who was placed on inactive status on March 30, said in a Wednesday filing, opens new tab he “would lose his ability to make a living as an attorney” as he faces criminal charges in Fulton County, Georgia, over his efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election win in the state.
Eastman, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, said he has incurred more than $1 million in legal fees from the Fulton County case, and expects to pay more than $3 million before that case ends.
“Undoubtedly, the loss of income from the practice of law in the face of such necessity would be highly prejudicial,” Eastman’s filing said.
A spokesperson for the California state bar, which prosecuted the case against Eastman, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Randall Miller, a lawyer for Eastman, said he had nothing to further to add. Eastman’s request includes declarations of support from his existing clients, including Republican Members of Congress Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene.