Ask Jordan: Could Pam Bondi or Lindsey Halligan be disbarred for bringing Trump’s retribution?

Florida's Pam Bondi and Lindsey Halligan, who serves as the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, are facing questions about whether they might face disciplinary action from their state bars. Can these lawyers be disbarred or disciplined by the state for bringing politically motivated cases against Trump's enemies?

There is an answer to that: yes, but with some caveats. There are rules in place that bind attorneys where they're licensed, which can lead to a range of sanctions, including disbarment. However, the actions of US Attorney General Bondi and other government lawyers suggest they think these rules don't apply to them.

One key point is that there isn't an ethics exception for someone working in the Trump administration. That said, it's essential to consider the legal and practical realities when examining the possibilities here.

Let's start with Pam Bondi. A group of lawyers, law professors, and former judges filed an ethics complaint against her with the Florida Bar in June, alleging that she "personally and through her senior management, has sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of 'zealous advocacy'." However, the Florida Bar claims it can't even investigate Bondi because the body doesn't investigate or prosecute "sitting officers appointed under the US Constitution while they're in office."

A recent court ruling rejected a bid to force the bar to look into Bondi. The bar's reasoning suggests that disciplinary action against her is unlikely as long as she remains in her current position, but it's possible that the door might swing open after she leaves.

Now let's turn to Lindsey Halligan and her role as the US Attorney for Virginia. Despite having no prior prosecutorial experience, she was installed by the administration to lead the office. She has secured indictments against high-profile Trump critics whose prosecutions the president had demanded - James Comey and Letitia James. The fact that career prosecutors opposed these cases suggests a lack of probable cause.

Halligan shouldn't be considered a "constitutional officer" like Bondi, which would justify state authorities not investigating her if a complaint is filed. However, Florida's rules imposing special responsibilities on prosecutors do apply to her.

One rule states that prosecutors must refrain from prosecuting charges without probable cause. At first glance, this might seem to apply to Halligan's conduct, as she bucked the wisdom of experienced DOJ lawyers in bringing the Comey and James cases.

However, proving that she knew the cases weren't supported by probable cause is almost impossible, unless there's some yet-uncovered confession on her part. The standard for probable cause is famously low compared to the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard at trial.

Another rule states that prosecutors must make timely disclosure of evidence or information that could negate guilt or mitigate an offense - known as the "Brady" obligations. While it's not yet clear if Halligan has violated this rule, it seems like a more practically provable violation than the probable cause rule.

The ethics rules applying to lawyers more generally will also be relevant in these cases, such as the requirement to be honest in court and in legal filings. As both cases unfold, we'll keep a close eye on developments.

idk how many times we need to repeat this but ppl like pam bondi think they're above the law her whole thing is so fishy lol. i mean can't she just follow the rules for once? apparently florida bar can't even look into her because she's in a "sitting officer" position that's wild. and lindsey halligan is lowkey trying to become a prosecutor superstar but career DOJ lawyers are like no way jose to these cases. the whole thing reeks of politicization

It's wild that these women think they're above the law . I get that they might not have broken any formal rules, but the fact that they're so blatant about it is concerning. I mean, come on, Lindsey Halligan's got no experience as a prosecutor, and she just goes around indicting Trump critics willy-nilly? That's a whole lot of questionable decision-making . And Pam Bondi, trying to make a case for herself by saying her position in the administration means she doesn't have to follow the rules? No thanks .

It's good that there are people pushing back against this behavior, like those law professors and former judges who filed an ethics complaint against Bondi. But it's also kinda sad that we need someone to point out that these women might be breaking some basic laws . I guess what I'm saying is, while I agree with the idea of holding them accountable, I wish they wouldn't get away with it so easily .

And can we talk about how the system allows this kind of thing to happen in the first place? It's like, we have rules and laws on the books, but sometimes they just don't seem to apply to people who are in positions of power . I know it sounds like a classic "both sides are bad" situation, but honestly, when it comes down to it, these women just seem way out of line .

I'm literally freaking out about this ! Like, can you even believe that there are people who think they're above the law? Pam Bondi and Lindsey Halligan are basically doing whatever they want and getting away with it because of their positions. It's so not okay . The fact that they're targeting Trump's enemies and violating ethics rules is just unacceptable . I'm all for accountability and holding people in power accountable, especially when it comes to the rule of law. We need more transparency and less politicization in our legal system. I'm keeping an eye on this and will be rooting for those who are trying to bring them down

gotta wonder if all these power players think they're above the law . I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start thinking that just 'cause they're in the Trump admin, they get to break every rule in the book without consequences? It's like they're trying to rewrite their own ethics manual or something .

And let's talk about Lindsey Halligan for a sec. I'm not buying the whole "she didn't know" vibe on this one . If she was so clueless, wouldn't her team of lawyers and DOJ vets have spoken up by now? It just seems like a convenient excuse to avoid accountability .

The thing is, we need more transparency and accountability in our government, not less . We can't let people abuse their power and think they're above the law . The fact that there are even questions about whether these lawyers can be disciplined or disbarred is a good sign, but we need to keep pushing for more answers .

And honestly, if I were in Bondi's shoes, I'd probably be super nervous right now . All this scrutiny and potential disciplinary action? Not great for your career, let me tell you .

it's about time someone asked if these ladies think they're above the law . Bondi's already showing her hand with that "zealous advocacy" nonsense... meanwhile Lindsey Halligan's just winging it and hoping no one notices she has no idea what she's doing . Probable cause is one thing, but honesty in court? That's like a whole different ball game . Can't wait to see how this all plays out, especially when they inevitably try to spin their way out of trouble

so this is getting interesting . it seems like florida's pam bondi might get away with some dodgy behavior , what with her being a 'sitting officer' and all that jazz. but lindsey halligan in virginia is a different story - i mean, she's got no prosecutorial experience under her belt , and career DOJ lawyers are saying the cases she's working on aren't based on probable cause... that's like asking for trouble .

and what really gets me is that these two women seem to think they're above the law . i mean, they're not exactly innocent bystanders here - bondi was making a big show about seeking out doj lawyers to "violate their ethical obligations"... yeah, right . and halligan's just following suit, bringing cases against trump critics that nobody else would touch .

anyway, it'll be cool to see how this all plays out ... will they get away with it, or will the state bars finally take action? only time will tell

I'm low-key worried about the state of politics right now . It's like, what's the deal with these lawyers just thinking they're above the law? I mean, Pam Bondi and Lindsey Halligan need to be held accountable for bringing those cases against Trump's enemies - it's not just about being partisan, it's about doing justice. And can you believe that the Florida Bar is basically saying "nah, we won't investigate" because of their positions? That's some weird logic right there.

And let's talk about Lindsey Halligan - I'm all for her pushing back against those indictments, but did she really have to buck DOJ lawyers on this one? It's like, you don't have to agree with them, but at least try to follow procedure, you know? Anyway, I'll be keeping an eye on these cases and hoping that justice is served .

I'm not sure why they need special treatment just 'cause they're part of the Trump administration . I mean, isn't it fair for everyone to follow the rules? It seems like a two-tiered system where some people get a free pass because they've got connections or are pals with the President.

Pam Bondi's actions do sound pretty shady, and if you ask me she should be held accountable . I'm not saying she's definitely going to get disbarred, but it'd be nice to see some action taken against her.

As for Lindsey Halligan, I don't think it's just a matter of whether or not she knew the cases were questionable... if she didn't do her due diligence on the evidence, then that's a problem . The "Brady" rule is in place to make sure prosecutors aren't hiding information from the other side, so if Halligan did that, it'd be pretty serious.

It's interesting that these cases are even being brought up, considering how some folks seem to think the rules don't apply to them . I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens with these investigations .

I'm so concerned about this whole situation... It's like they think they're above the law just because of their positions. I mean, I get it, as a lawyer you want to zealously advocate for your clients, but when it starts to cross over into personal politics and disregarding the law... that's just not okay.

Pam Bondi and Lindsey Halligan need to be held accountable for their actions. If they're breaking rules and ethics, they should face consequences. It's like, if you're a teacher and you cheat on the test, the principal is gonna know about it, right? Same thing with lawyers. They have a responsibility to uphold the law.

The whole thing with the Florida Bar not being able to investigate Bondi because she's a sitting officer... that just doesn't sit well with me. I mean, shouldn't they be able to hold her accountable for her actions even if she is in office?

And Lindsey Halligan, I don't know how you can justify some of these cases without probable cause... It's like, come on, lawyers are supposed to have standards and follow procedures. She's basically making it up as she goes along.

This whole thing just highlights the importance of accountability and ethics in our legal system. We need people who are going to stand up for what's right, even if it's hard or unpopular. Otherwise, we're gonna end up with a broken system.