Rudy Giuliani, former lawyer to ex-President Trump, lost his license to practice law in New York on Tuesday.
**Why it matters:** The order from New York's Appellate Division First Department is the latest in a series of events connected to Giuliani's alleged efforts to help Trump overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
The panel of judges stated in the court filing that Giuliani "communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large" about the 2020 election. They also noted that he "flagrantly misused" his position as Trump's lawyer and "deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession."
**What they're saying:** Giuliani plans to appeal the disbarment decision, according to his spokesperson, Ted Goodman.
"Members of the legal community who respect the rule of law in this country should immediately come forward and speak out against this politically and ideologically corrupted decision," Goodman wrote.
**Flashback:** Giuliani, who was also the former mayor of New York City and a top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, was suspended from practicing law in New York in 2021. Last year, an attorney disciplinary committee recommended he be disbarred in D.C., where he'd been an inactive member since 2002.
**The big picture:** According to the court filing, Giuliani has "actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 presidential election." His "disruptive and disrespectful behavior" during a hearing further supported the case for his disbarment.
**State of play:** Giuliani faces legal charges and financial penalties for 2020 election interference. In Arizona, he pleaded not guilty in May in a fake electors case and was ordered to post a $10,000 bond. He is also a co-defendant in Georgia, facing 13 charges, including conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and violating Georgia's RICO act. Additionally, he was ordered last year to pay $148 million for defaming two Georgia election workers.
**The bottom line:** The New York court filing stated that Giuliani's proximity to the president "gave his acts and words a special currency to the public," but his behavior caused "immeasurable damage to our democracy."
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