Georgia Lawyer Disbarred for Role in Jan. 6 Riots

State Supreme Court upholds disbarment despite Trump's pardon

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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William McCall Calhoun Jr., a Georgia-based lawyer, has been disbarred by the state's Supreme Court for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riots. The court unanimously ruled that Calhoun must be disbarred, despite a pardon issued by former President Trump for all Jan. 6 participants.

Why it matters

This decision is seen as a rare instance of meaningful consequences for crimes committed in the name of the MAGA movement, as legal expert Steven Lubet notes that there have been few lasting repercussions for such actions under the Trump administration.

The details

Calhoun was arrested shortly after the Capitol riots in 2021 and was convicted on four misdemeanors and one felony charge. While Trump later issued a blanket pardon for all Jan. 6 participants, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the pardon did not prevent Calhoun's disbarment, as the underlying actions that led to his crimes warranted the professional penalty.

  • Calhoun was arrested shortly after the Capitol riots in 2021.
  • Calhoun was convicted on four misdemeanors and one felony charge.
  • Trump issued a blanket pardon for all Jan. 6 participants in 2021.
  • The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously ruled to disbar Calhoun in February 2026.

The players

William McCall Calhoun Jr.

A Georgia-based lawyer who was disbarred by the state's Supreme Court for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riots.

Steven Lubet

A legal expert and professor emeritus at Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law, who commended the Georgia Supreme Court's decision to disbar Calhoun.

Georgia Supreme Court

The state's highest court, which unanimously ruled to disbar Calhoun despite a pardon issued by former President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Pardons do not prevent disbarment for the underlying activity that formed the basis of the crime.”

— Georgia Supreme Court (The Hill)

“It was, therefore, truly heartening to see a group of Republicans acknowledge that law-breaking must be meaningfully penalized, even if committed under the MAGA banner.”

— Steven Lubet, Legal Expert (The Hill)

What’s next

The Georgia Bar Disciplinary Board will now formally revoke Calhoun's law license, preventing him from practicing law in the state.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates that even in the face of political pardons, the legal system can still hold individuals accountable for their actions, particularly when those actions undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions.