Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, was formally disbarred in the state of Connecticut on Monday.
Following a court ruling that determined he violated professional standards governing attorney conduct.
The decision marks a significant legal and professional consequence for Biden, whose career as a lawyer has now effectively ended in multiple jurisdictions.
The disbarment stems from a series of ethical violations related to his past federal convictions, including charges involving firearms and taxes, both of which had been pardoned in December 2024 by his father, then-President Joe Biden.
Despite the pardon eliminating potential criminal penalties, the Connecticut court emphasized that professional accountability for lawyers persists independently of criminal pardons, reinforcing the principle that ethical standards in the legal profession remain enforceable regardless of prior criminal adjudications.
Court documents indicate that Hunter Biden consented to the disbarment, acknowledging professional misconduct without admitting to any underlying criminal wrongdoing.
During the proceeding in Waterbury, Connecticut, Biden appeared via video alongside his attorney, Ross Garber, before Judge Trial Referee Patrick L. Carroll III.
According to reports from Newsweek, Biden’s consent to disbarment reflected a strategic decision to resolve the matter without prolonged litigation, while simultaneously recognizing that his actions violated established rules of professional conduct.As noted by Newsweek, this marks the second jurisdiction in which Biden has lost his law license; he had previously voluntarily surrendered his license in Washington, D.C., in April 2025.The Connecticut disbarment, therefore, effectively precludes him from practicing law in multiple major U.S. jurisdictions and underscores the enduring professional consequences that lawyers face, irrespective of pardons or other forms of executive clemency.Hunter Biden was first admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1997, a year after graduating from Yale Law School.
Over the years, he worked intermittently as an attorney while also pursuing a variety of business and investment ventures.However, his legal career became overshadowed by a series of high-profile federal investigations.
Among the key issues leading to the Connecticut disbarment were violations of several ethical rules that prohibit conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.The court cited these violations explicitly in its findings, asserting that they constituted serious breaches of professional standards required of attorneys.
The judge’s ruling also referenced Biden’s previous voluntary disbarment in Washington, D.C., treating it as partial grounds for the decision in Connecticut. In addition, the disbarment traces back to Hunter Biden’s federal convictions.These included three felony counts in a Delaware case, in which he was found guilty of purchasing a firearm in 2018 while falsely representing on federal forms that he was not illegally using or addicted to controlled substances.
While these convictions carried a potential sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison, legal experts noted that, as a first-time offender, Biden likely would have faced a significantly lighter sentence or could have avoided incarceration altogether.Nevertheless, the professional misconduct arising from these convictions triggered disciplinary measures separate from criminal penalties.
In addition to the firearm-related charges, Hunter Biden faced federal tax charges in California, alleging failure to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes over multiple years.In September 2024, he agreed to plead guilty to a combination of misdemeanor and felony tax charges, shortly before jury selection was set to begin.
Following these proceedings, former President Joe Biden issued a broad pardon covering conduct over an 11-year period, encompassing both the Delaware gun case and the California tax matters.While the pardon prevented incarceration and nullified criminal liability, it did not vacate the underlying convictions in Delaware, which were formally closed by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika after the pardon was granted.Similarly, the California tax case was dismissed, despite objections from prosecutors who argued that the pardon should not erase the cases entirely as though they had never occurred.In Washington, D.C., Hunter Biden voluntarily surrendered his law license in April 2025 in recognition of his criminal record.
The District of Columbia Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility accepted the surrender, thereby avoiding extended disciplinary proceedings that could have assessed whether his prior criminal cases mandated mandatory disbarment.The board subsequently recommended that the D.C. Court of Appeals approve the voluntary disbarment, which was granted, marking the formal end of Biden’s ability to practice law in the nation’s capital.
The Connecticut case, however, involved a more formal and contested process, as it required coordination with the state’s attorney discipline agency and a court-approved consent to disbarment.
Under the agreement reached in Connecticut, Hunter Biden admitted to certain allegations of misconduct outlined in court filings while contesting others.
News reports indicated that one of the two complainants in the state, Paul Dorsey, objected to the agreement, arguing that Biden did not formally admit to committing crimes.
Nonetheless, the court accepted the consent to disbarment, formally revoking Biden’s license to practice law in Connecticut.
According to the Associated Press, this disbarment, in combination with his voluntary license surrender in Washington, D.C., ensures that Biden’s legal career is permanently curtailed in multiple jurisdictions.
Experts in legal ethics note that these decisions illustrate the separation between criminal pardons and professional accountability; while a pardon removes legal punishment, it does not absolve attorneys from adhering to the ethical and professional standards required of licensed lawyers.
Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have extended beyond formal disbarment proceedings.
Last month, he generated widespread controversy after making a vulgar personal attack on New York Post columnist Miranda Devine during an appearance on the Wide Awake Podcast on November 6, 2025.
During the episode, he called Devine a “whore” and asserted that “no one would mourn her death,” remarks widely condemned as inappropriate and inflammatory.
These comments came amid a lengthy history of Devine’s reporting on Hunter Biden’s personal life, including coverage of his infamous laptop and his overseas business dealings, which have been the subject of intense scrutiny over the past several years.
The incident prompted condemnation from both media organizations and the public, further complicating Biden’s already embattled public profile.
The Connecticut disbarment also reflects broader tensions surrounding the accountability of attorneys who hold high-profile public or political connections.
Biden’s case has been closely watched due to his family ties, highlighting how professional standards are applied in high-profile circumstances.
Legal scholars emphasize that maintaining ethical standards for attorneys is critical to preserving public trust in the legal system.
By pursuing disbarment, Connecticut authorities underscored that no individual, regardless of family connections or presidential pardons, is exempt from professional obligations.
Observers note that the case may serve as a precedent for similar disciplinary actions involving attorneys with pardoned criminal convictions, demonstrating that ethical compliance is distinct from criminal liability.
Hunter Biden’s disbarment has elicited a wide range of public reactions.
Supporters argue that he has faced intense scrutiny in part because of his family name and that the professional consequences should be considered in the context of his broader life circumstances, including struggles with addiction and personal challenges.
Critics, however, contend that the disbarment is entirely warranted, emphasizing the importance of maintaining integrity within the legal profession.
Legal commentators note that Hunter Biden’s consent to disbarment allowed the process to conclude without further litigation, which could have revealed additional details about his conduct, while also signaling acknowledgment of professional shortcomings.
The combination of criminal convictions, presidential pardon, public controversies, and now formal disbarment has effectively ended Hunter Biden’s legal career.
Experts suggest that the Connecticut ruling, coupled with the voluntary surrender of his license in Washington, D.C., prevents him from practicing law in two key U.S. jurisdictions, and would likely influence any attempts to obtain licensure elsewhere.
As the case demonstrates, disciplinary measures in the legal field extend beyond criminal outcomes and underscore the independent responsibility of attorneys to uphold ethical standards.
Throughout the process, Biden’s legal representation emphasized cooperation with disciplinary authorities while protecting his broader rights.
Ross Garber, Biden’s attorney, noted that the goal was to resolve the matter in a manner that recognized past misconduct without prolonging litigation or drawing out extensive hearings.
The court’s acceptance of the consent agreement allowed for a definitive resolution while reinforcing professional accountability.
In conclusion, Hunter Biden’s formal disbarment in Connecticut represents a significant legal milestone, both for him personally and for the legal profession more broadly.
While his criminal convictions were pardoned, the disbarment underscores the principle that attorneys remain bound by professional and ethical standards regardless of criminal pardons or family connections.
The case also highlights the intersection of public scrutiny, personal behavior, and professional responsibility, serving as a reminder that the legal profession maintains independent standards to protect the public and preserve trust in the justice system.
Combined with previous disciplinary actions, public controversies, and the voluntary surrender of his D.C. license, Hunter Biden’s disbarment marks the effective end of his legal career, closing a complex chapter in both his personal and professional life.
