NEW: Hunter Biden’s D.C. Law License Suspended

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Actions have consequences, they say. At times, it does seem as though that’s not so much true for those who happen to sport a “D” behind their name. However, even double standards have their limits, apparently. 

Following his conviction in Delaware on federal gun charges in mid-June, the law licensing committee for the D.C. Court of Appeals recommended that First Son Hunter Biden’s license to practice law in the District be suspended. Tuesday, the Court of Appeals issued an order doing just that.

Why it matters: It’s the latest fallout from the president’s son’s conviction and trial, which aired some of the Biden family’s darkest moments.

• Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison, although as a first-time offender it’s unlikely he will receive the maximum sentence.

Driving the news: The court order stated that Hunter Biden is “suspended immediately from the practice of law” in D.C., after considering the indictment and jury verdict in his federal gun trial.

• The appeals court also directed D.C.’s Board on Professional Responsibility to “institute a formal proceeding to determine the nature of the offense and whether it involves moral turpitude.”

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As noted, the order makes the suspension effective immediately and further recommends the District’s Board of Professional Responsibility to open a formal inquiry into the matter to determine whether Biden’s offense “involves moral turpitude.” The reason for that is that under §11–2503 of the District of Columbia Code, a lawyer may be permanently disbarred if convicted of such an offense: 

Code of the District of Columbia

§ 11–2503. Disbarment upon conviction of crime; procedure for censure, suspension, or disbarment.

(a) When a member of the bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals is convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, and a certified copy of the conviction is presented to the court, the court shall, pending final determination of an appeal from the conviction, suspend the member of the bar from practice. Upon reversal of the conviction the court may vacate or modify the suspension. If a final judgment of conviction is certified to the court, the name of the member of the bar so convicted shall be struck from the roll of the members of the bar and such person shall thereafter cease to be a member. Upon the granting of a pardon to a member so convicted, the court may vacate or modify the order of disbarment.

Biden is expected to appeal his conviction, and, in fact, his legal team filed a Motion for New Trial on his behalf Monday, so, assuming the gun convictions qualify as offenses involving moral turpitude, he would not be disbarred unless/until he loses on appeal. Additionally, there’s little indication Biden has been actively practicing law. Still, this ruling makes it clear he’s formally suspended from doing so until further determinations are made.