Despite pardon, court says disbarment might be appropriate for lawyer who stormed the Capitol

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Regardless of pardon, courtroom says disbarment would possibly…

Lawyer Self-discipline

Regardless of pardon, courtroom says disbarment may be acceptable for lawyer who stormed the Capitol

By Stephanie Francis Ward

January 26, 2026, 12:45 pm CST

Public reprimand was not sufficient punishment for a lawyer who admitted to getting into the U.S. Capitol Constructing with rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, the Georgia Supreme Courtroom just lately discovered.

The Jan. 21 opinion includes W. McCall Calhoun Jr., and rejects the State Bar of Georgia and a particular grasp’s advice that he obtain public reprimand. Proof consists of Calhoun’s social media posts, which “clearly counsel” that he meant to take part in a “violent takeover” of the capital, in line with the opinion.

“If Calhoun was as concerned as his posts point out, then it’s arduous for us to see how something lower than disbarment will be accepted right here,” the courtroom wrote in a unanimous opinion. The matter is remanded for additional proceedings.

Calhoun didn’t instantly reply to an ABA Journal interview request. On Jan. 9, 2021, he instructed the Atlanta Journal Structure that individuals who pressured their method into the Capitol have been “heroic” and “patriotic.”

The Americus, Georgia, lawyer was convicted of felony and misdemeanor expenses associated to the Jan. 6 occasions. President Donald Trump granted Calhoun a pardon for all of the offenses in January 2025.

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