It doesn't come as a terrible shock, but a New York appeals court has disbarred Rudy Giuliani, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, former mayor of New York City, and attorney for former President Donald Trump — "effective immediately." The ruling comes in response to Giuliani's involvement in challenging the 2020 presidential election. 

A panel of judges in New York’s Appellate Division, First Department wrote that Giuliani “flagrantly misused” his position as an attorney for former President Trump and his campaign to make “intentionally” false statements to courts, lawmakers and the public.  

“In so doing, respondent not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant,” they wrote in a 31-page ruling.

The New York appeals panel ordered Giuliani to “desist and refrain” from practicing law in any form, appearing as an attorney before any court or public authority, providing legal advice or presenting himself “in any way” as an attorney.

The decision cited Giuliani’s false claims of smuggled ballots, dead or non-U.S. citizen voters casting ballots in the election as part of their reasoning. It focused on false claims he made about the election in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Giuliani's New York law license was suspended in 2021. His Washington, D.C. license has been suspended as well. It's unclear whether/to what extent the 80-year-old was still practicing. He's had to spend a fair amount of time in recent years defending himself in various lawsuits. 

In December, Giuliani was ordered to pay nearly $150 million to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss in the defamation suit they brought against him. Shortly thereafter, Giuliani declared bankruptcy. 

BREAKING: Jury Orders Rudy Giuliani to Pay Nearly $150 Million
to Election Workers in Defamation Suit

Rudy Giuliani Files for Bankruptcy After Being Ordered 
o Pay $148 Million in Defamation Lawsuit

In September, Giuliani was sued by Hunter Biden, who claimed that the former Trump lawyer hacked and manipulated data on an external hard drive, resulting in "total annihilation" of his "digital privacy." Hunter then dropped that suit following his conviction in June in the Delaware gun trial — a case in which the infamous "Laptop From Hell" was authenticated by the government and evidence from it used to prove the First Son's guilt. Whether that dismissal was due to that or Giuliani's bankruptcy — or both — is unclear. 

NEW: Hunter Biden Sues Rudy Giuliani for 'Hacking,'
Makes Astonishing Claim About Infamous Laptop

Fancy That: Hunter Biden Dismisses Laptop Lawsuit Against Rudy Giuliani

In the meantime, Hunter's moved on to greener pastures, filing suit Monday (technically, Sunday) against Fox News for allegedly targeting him “in an effort to harass, annoy, alarm, and humiliate him, and tarnish his reputation.” Of course, Hunter also knows a thing or two about suspended law licenses...

Can't Make This Stuff Up: Hunter Biden Is Suing Fox Over 'Revenge Porn'

NEW: Hunter Biden's D.C. Law License Suspended

Politics — it's a dirty business, friends.