Disbar

To disbar is to take away an attorney's ability to practice law. An attorney's license to practice law is revoked as a result of disbarment. Attorneys can be disbarred for a variety of different activities that are usually related to violations of the code of ethics (e.g., using the clients trust fund money) or violations of criminal laws (e.g., selling narcotics). The disbarment process is carried out during an administrative disciplinary proceeding. Both President Richard Nixon (for committing perjury during the Watergate hearings) and his Vice-President Spiro Agnew (after pleading no contest on charges of bribery and tax evasion) were disbarred from the respective states in which they were licensed to practice law (New York and Maryland).