Biden Gives Up License To Sidestep Disbarment

Hand holding white flag against a blue sky.

Hunter Biden surrenders his Washington D.C. law license, strategically avoiding formal disbarment proceedings that would have inevitably followed his multiple felony convictions.

Quick Takes

Hunter Biden has consented to permanent disbarment from practicing law in Washington, D.C., filing an affidavit under seal in the D.C. Court of Appeals.
His law license was previously suspended in June 2024 after being found guilty of lying about drug use to obtain a firearm.
Hunter was convicted on all counts in a gun case and pleaded guilty to nine charges related to tax evasion, including three felonies.
Former President Joe Biden issued Hunter a “full and unconditional” pardon in December 2024, before leaving office, but this didn’t protect his professional credentials.
The voluntary surrender allows Hunter to avoid lengthy legal proceedings while the D.C. court must still formally accept the disciplinary board’s recommendation.

Strategic Surrender of Legal Credentials

The D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility announced that Hunter Biden has voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Washington, D.C. following his criminal convictions. This preemptive move circumvents what would have been inevitable disbarment proceedings triggered by his multiple felony convictions. The board indicated that Biden filed an affidavit under seal in the D.C. Court of Appeals, explicitly consenting to disbarment, though the court must still formally accept the recommendation for it to become official.

Biden’s law license had already been suspended in June 2024 after his conviction for lying about drug use to purchase a firearm in 2018. The D.C. Bar’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel had initiated proceedings citing Rule XI, which requires suspension for attorneys convicted of a felony. By surrendering his license voluntarily, Hunter avoids a potentially embarrassing and lengthy process that would have publicly examined his criminal history and professional conduct in detail.

Criminal Convictions That Prompted Disbarment

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles accumulated significantly over the past year, creating insurmountable obstacles to maintaining his professional credentials. He was found guilty on all counts in a federal gun case dating back to 2018, where he falsified information about his drug use when purchasing a revolver. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to nine charges related to tax evasion, including three felonies and six misdemeanors, amounting to millions in unpaid taxes during a period when he maintained a lavish lifestyle.

“Hunter Biden has agreed to give up his license to practice law in Washington, D.C., as a result of his criminal record,” said the D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility.

While President Trump now occupies the White House, former President Joe Biden issued his son a “full and unconditional” pardon in December 2024 before leaving office. This presidential action cleared Hunter’s criminal record regarding the gun conviction but couldn’t prevent professional consequences. The D.C. court had previously indicated it would “institute a formal proceeding to determine the nature of the offense and whether it involves moral turpitude” before Hunter’s voluntary surrender made such proceedings unnecessary.

Professional Background and Current Status

Hunter Biden graduated from Yale Law School in 1996 and was admitted to the D.C. bar in 2007, though records indicate he never actively practiced law in the district. He also holds a law license in Connecticut, which is currently under administrative suspension for non-payment of a reinstatement fee. The specifics of his decision to surrender his D.C. law license remain confidential, with the consent motion filed stating that his affidavit “shall not be publicly disclosed or made available for use in any other proceeding except by order of the Court.”

Currently, Hunter faces significant financial challenges despite his privileged background. In a March court filing related to child support obligations, he described himself as a struggling artist citing financial difficulties due to declining art sales and the impact of the January Los Angeles fires. Despite his legal troubles, he maintains an active role in civil litigation, having filed a federal libel suit against former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne in the Central District of California, where he will be represented by South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian.