The MAGA-world “Kraken” lawyer Sidney Powell will not face any discipline from the Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals. Yes, she pleaded guilty to to six misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties. But the Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals confirmed they dismissed the motion for compulsory discipline brought by the state’s Commission for Lawyer Discipline in June, after Powell’s guilty plea.
The compulsory discipline action happens when a member of the bar has been convicted, pleads no contest or has been put on probation for a “serious or intentional crime.” As reported by Law 360:
The commission argued in its June petition that Powell’s offenses qualified as both intentional and serious crimes under the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. Under the rules, intentional crimes include any serious crime that requires “proof of knowledge or intent,” while serious crimes include barratry, misdemeanor theft or embezzlement, and “any felony involving moral turpitude.”
But Powell’s team pointed to the fact that, according to the plea agreement, the misdemeanor counts “are not crimes of moral turpitude.” Something Above the Law’s own Liz Dye pointed to back in 2023 as Powell’s get-out-of-sanctions card.
Powell’s attorney, Robert H. Holmes, said of the dismissal, “hopefully the lawfare of the Texas Bar against Ms. Powell has ended.” Which, seems like aggressive posturing given the varied legal issues his client has found herself in. But also exactly on-brand for the Trump II reign.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
