As of mid-2026, John Eastman has been disbarred in California, pardoned by President Donald Trump for any federal offenses tied to the 2020 election, and is still exposed to a possible state prosecution in Arizona. He continues to run the Claremont Institute’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, writes for the Claremont Review of Books, and is preparing a U.S. Supreme Court challenge to his disbarment. If you have been searching for what John Eastman is doing now, that is the short version; the details below fill it in.
Disbarred in California
On April 15, 2026, the California Supreme Court ordered Eastman disbarred, directing that his name be “stricken from the roll of attorneys” and requiring him to pay $5,000 to the State Bar.1The Recorder. California Supreme Court Orders John Eastman Disbarred The order came as a brief docket entry rejecting Eastman’s requests to overturn lower-court findings that he had violated professional ethics rules.2New York Times. John Eastman Disbarred Over 2020 Election Efforts
The ruling ended a multi-year disciplinary process. In March 2024, State Bar Court Judge Yvette Roland found Eastman culpable on 10 of 11 charges and recommended disbarment, concluding that he had conspired with Trump to “develop and implement a strategy to obstruct the counting of electoral votes on January 6, 2021,” knowing there was no good-faith legal basis to reject any state’s electoral votes or delay the count.3State Bar of California. State Bar Court Hearing Judge Recommends John Eastman’s Disbarment In June 2025, a three-judge review panel of the State Bar Court unanimously upheld that recommendation, calling his conduct “egregious” and noting he continued to deny wrongdoing. Judge Kearse McGill wrote that Eastman “denies he misled the courts” and “denies that he conspired to subvert the law in order to benefit his client’s desire to remain in office after his client lost a fair and lawfully conducted election.”4Politico. California Court Upholds John Eastman Disbarment
Fighting the Disbarment at the Supreme Court
Eastman is trying to take the disbarment to the U.S. Supreme Court. A lawyer representing him said the case “raises pivotal constitutional concerns regarding the limits of state regulation of attorney speech.”5The Guardian. Lawyer John Eastman Disbarred Over 2020 Election Efforts for Trump As of June 2026 he had not yet filed a petition for certiorari but had asked for a 60-day extension, pushing his deadline to file to September 12, 2026. Jay Sekulow is his counsel of record for the appeal.6Supreme Court of the United States. Eastman Application for Extension of Time
Publicly, Eastman still maintains the 2020 election was stolen and says he was “simply representing Mr. Trump.”2New York Times. John Eastman Disbarred Over 2020 Election Efforts
Where the Criminal Cases Stand
Georgia: Dismissed
Eastman was one of the co-defendants in the Fulton County, Georgia, RICO and election-interference case originally brought by District Attorney Fani Willis. On November 26, 2025, replacement prosecutor Pete Skandalakis dismissed the case in its entirety, concluding it was not a “viable basis for prosecution” and that Georgia citizens were not served by pursuing it for another five to ten years. Eastman said he was “delighted that the replacement prosecutor recognized that challenging illegality in an election is not a crime.”7ABC News. Georgia Prosecutor Drops Election Interference Case Against Trump
Arizona: Still Live
Arizona is where Eastman’s real remaining criminal exposure sits. He was among 18 Republicans indicted in April 2024 on charges including forgery, fraud, and conspiracy over their alleged roles in organizing fake electoral certificates claiming Trump won the state in 2020.8KTAR. Arizona Fake Electors Indictments In May 2025, a Maricopa County judge threw out the indictments because prosecutors had not presented the full text of the Electoral Count Act to the grand jury.9WJHL. Arizona Prosecutors Ordered to Send Fake Elector Case Back to Grand Jury Attorney General Kris Mayes appealed, but in June 2026 the Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Her office has said it intends to return the matter to a grand jury.
Federal Pardon From Trump
On November 10, 2025, Trump pardoned Eastman along with dozens of others for conduct related to the 2020 election. The pardon covers only federal crimes and was described as “largely symbolic” because Eastman was not facing federal charges at the time. Special counsel Jack Smith had named him an unindicted co-conspirator, but he was never federally indicted.10New York Times. Trump Pardons Giuliani, Eastman, Powell and Others Importantly, the pardon has no effect on the Arizona state prosecution.11AZ Mirror. Trump Pardons Arizona Fake Electors
His Work at the Claremont Institute
Losing his California law license has not ended Eastman’s day job. He remains the founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Claremont Institute, the conservative think tank where he started the Center in 1999. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute and sits on its board.12Claremont Institute. John C. Eastman Claremont has stood by him: its president, Ryan Williams, called the disbarment “profoundly un-American lawfare” and described Eastman as a “fearless champion” of the Center’s mission.13Claremont Institute. Claremont Institute Condemns the Disbarment of John Eastman
The Center has stayed active in litigation. In 2025 and 2026 it filed amicus briefs in U.S. Supreme Court cases challenging birthright citizenship, with Eastman listed as counsel of record on at least one filing before his California disbarment took effect.14Claremont Institute. Claremont Institute Files Brief Challenging Abuse of Birthright Citizenship On April 1, 2026, he was seen in the public gallery of the Supreme Court watching oral argument in the birthright citizenship case Trump v. Barbara.15SCOTUSblog. Trump Attends Birthright Citizenship Argument He also keeps writing for the Claremont Review of Books.16Claremont Review of Books. John C. Eastman
Where He Lives and What It’s Costing Him
Eastman lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he and his wife have owned a home for roughly two decades.17Albuquerque Journal. Electors in New Mexico, Santa Fe Resident John Eastman Play Role in Trump Charges His presence in the city drew sustained protests near the house for more than a year, ending in the summer of 2023 when his California disbarment proceedings began.18Santa Fe New Mexican. Eastman’s Disbarment Brings Belated Satisfaction
The bills have been steep. As of early 2024, Eastman put his total legal defense costs at $3 million to $3.5 million. He runs a crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo that has raised roughly $999,000 toward a $1.5 million goal, and he has said it covers only a fraction of what he owes, adding that he was trying “very hard not to completely deplete my wife’s retirement fund.”19GiveSendGo. Eastman Legal Defense Fund20NOTUS. Trump Co-Defendants Legal Fees Fund