Hunter Biden surrenders his D.C. law license amid mounting legal troubles, avoiding formal disbarment proceedings after felony convictions that would have automatically stripped him of his legal credentials.
Key Insights
- Hunter Biden has consented to disbarment in Washington D.C., following his felony gun conviction and tax evasion guilty pleas
- Despite receiving a “full and unconditional” pardon from his father before leaving office, Hunter still faced automatic suspension due to his felony status
- Biden was admitted to the D.C. bar in 2007 after graduating from Yale Law School but reportedly never actively practiced law in the district
- His voluntary surrender allows him to avoid lengthy disciplinary proceedings that would have likely resulted in the same outcome
Legal Credentials Forfeited
President Biden’s son Hunter will be permanently disbarred from practicing law in Washington, D.C., following his agreement to a disciplinary agency’s recommendation. The first son filed an affidavit under seal in the D.C. Court of Appeals, explicitly giving his “consent to disbarment.” This voluntary surrender of his legal credentials comes in the wake of multiple criminal convictions that would have triggered automatic disciplinary action against him as an attorney licensed in the district.
The D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility announced the decision, which allows Hunter to bypass potentially lengthy legal proceedings that would have scrutinized his criminal record. For the disbarment to become official, the District of Columbia court must still formally accept the disciplinary board’s recommendation, though this is largely considered a procedural formality given Hunter’s consent to the action.
Criminal Convictions and Suspended License
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles began mounting last year when he was found guilty on all counts in a Delaware gun trial stemming from a 2018 incident. The charges centered around his acquisition of a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. His D.C. law license was initially suspended in June following this felony conviction, as bar rules mandate automatic suspension for attorneys convicted of serious crimes.
“Hunter Biden has agreed to give up his license to practice law in Washington, D.C., as a result of his criminal record,” stated the D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility.
The legal complications intensified when Hunter later pleaded guilty to nine charges related to tax evasion in California, including three felonies and six misdemeanors. These additional convictions would have further cemented the case for disbarment under professional conduct standards. Despite former President Joe Biden issuing Hunter a “full and unconditional” pardon in December before leaving office, the D.C. Bar’s disbarment proceedings continued.
Hunter Biden agrees to disbarment for felony conviction https://t.co/P3acfacAAn
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 2, 2025
Professional Background and Current Status
Hunter Biden’s legal career began after graduating from Yale Law School in 1996, though he wasn’t admitted to the D.C. bar until 2007. According to reports, while maintaining his D.C. bar membership, Hunter 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, unrelated to his criminal convictions.
“[T]he affidavit required under [the relevant ethical rule] shall not be publicly disclosed or made available for use in any other proceeding except by order of the Court or upon written consent of the attorney,” stated the consent motion filed with the court.
The specifics of Hunter’s decision to surrender his law license were kept confidential by the board, described only as “standard procedure.” In recent court filings, Hunter has described himself as a struggling artist, citing financial difficulties due to declining art sales and impacts from the January Los Angeles fires. Despite his legal credentials being stripped, he continues to pursue a defamation lawsuit against former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne, with South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian representing him in that matter.
Sources:
- Convicted felon Hunter Biden to be permanently stripped of DC license to practice law
- Hunter Biden voluntarily gives up law license, dodges hearings over felony convictions
- Hunter Biden gives up law license in Washington, D.C., avoiding disbarment proceedings – POLITICO
- Hunter Biden Surrenders D.C. Law License, Avoiding Disbarment Proceedings – One America News Network
