Law License Surrendered By Hunter Biden In D.C.

I don't know who these people are in the crowd.

Hunter Biden surrenders his D.C. law license, opting to face permanent disbarment rather than endure lengthy disciplinary proceedings stemming from his felony convictions.

Key Takeaways

Hunter Biden has voluntarily surrendered his Washington D.C. law license, consenting to permanent disbarment following recommendations from a disciplinary agency.
His law license was initially suspended in June 2024 after being found guilty of lying about drug use to obtain a firearm in a Delaware trial.
Hunter also pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges, including three felonies, in a separate California case.
Despite receiving a “full and unconditional” pardon from his father before leaving office, the pardon did not prevent professional consequences for his legal career.
The D.C. Court of Appeals must still formally accept the disciplinary board’s recommendation for the disbarment to become official.

Voluntary Surrender Avoids Lengthy Disbarment Process

Hunter Biden has agreed to permanently relinquish his law license in Washington D.C., according to an announcement from the D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility. Biden filed an affidavit under seal in the D.C. Court of Appeals, officially consenting to disbarment rather than face protracted disciplinary proceedings. This decision comes after the D.C. Bar’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel initiated proceedings to suspend his license following multiple felony convictions over the past year.

The board described the action as “standard procedure” for attorneys facing serious criminal convictions. While the D.C. Court of Appeals must still formally accept the recommendation for Biden’s disbarment to become official, this step is largely procedural. By voluntarily surrendering his license, Biden avoids what could have been lengthy and publicly scrutinized hearings that would have examined his criminal cases in detail.

Criminal Convictions Trigger Professional Consequences

Biden’s legal troubles began mounting in June 2024 when his law license was initially suspended after a Delaware jury found him guilty on all counts in a gun case dating back to 2018. The conviction centered on charges that he lied about his drug use when purchasing a firearm. Bar authorities cited Rule XI, which requires suspension for attorneys guilty of a felony, as the basis for their action against Biden.

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

In addition to the gun charges, Biden pleaded guilty to nine charges related to tax evasion in California, including three felonies and six misdemeanors. These charges alleged that he failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars in income while spending lavishly on what prosecutors described as an extravagant lifestyle. The combination of these serious legal issues made the prospect of maintaining his professional law license increasingly untenable.

Hunter Biden agrees to disbarment for felony conviction https://t.co/P3acfacAAn

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 2, 2025

Presidential Pardon Insufficient to Save Legal Career

Although former President Joe Biden issued his son a “full and unconditional” pardon in December before leaving office, this executive action did not prevent the professional consequences flowing from Hunter’s convictions. Legal experts have long noted that presidential pardons, while clearing criminal penalties, do not automatically restore professional licenses or prevent disciplinary action by professional regulatory bodies.

Hunter Biden’s legal career began with promise after graduating from Yale Law School in 1996. He was admitted to the D.C. bar in 2007, though reports indicate he never actively practiced law in the District. He also maintained a law license in Connecticut, which is currently under administrative suspension for non-payment of reinstatement fees. In a March court filing in an unrelated matter, Biden described himself as a struggling artist, citing financial difficulties due to declining art sales and impacts from the January Los Angeles fires.