ETHICS COMPLAINT UPDATE

Update: LDAD and States United Democracy Center File Ethics Complaints Against Attorney Kurt Olsen

June 28, 2021

Oct 3, 2024

Jul 12, 2024

Photo: Screenshot courtesy of the Arizona Court of Appeals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a result of a collaboration between LDAD and the States United Democracy Center, ethics complaints have been filed against Kurt Olsen, who has spread election lies while representing Election Deniers, including Kari Lake, in frivolous election lawsuits. The complaints were filed with the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission and the District of Columbia’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel. They garnered support from more than a dozen legal experts, ethics experts, and former government officials representing both major parties. The group includes numerous lawyers barred in Maryland or D.C., where the complaints were filed.

The ethics complaints call for a swift investigation into Olsen’s misconduct as well as immediate interim discipline due to the risk his ongoing pattern of unethical behavior poses to the public. The groups point to Olsen’s repeated disregard for his obligations as an attorney, including his representation of Election Deniers in multiple frivolous election-related lawsuits based on false and misleading claims.

Olsen was involved as an attorney in both Texas v. Pennsylvania and Lake v. Hobbs I and II. The complaints also highlight sanctions and discipline that Olsen already faces in Arizona for related conduct. Supplements to the complaints were filed in Maryland and DC in October arising from possible involvement by Olsen in unauthorized access to voting equipment in Colorado in the 2020 election.

These complaints are the latest efforts to seek accountability for attorney misconduct during the plot to overturn the 2020 election. A separate complaint against Stefanie Lambert was recently filed by LDAD in Michigan. Lambert is an attorney who orchestrated voting machine breaches in Pennsylvania and Michigan after the 2020 election.

“Accountability for serious ethical violations by lawyers is essential to the integrity of the legal profession and to the rule of law. The complaints filed today meticulously set forth the relevant facts and the applicable ethical rules violated by Mr. Olsen. The complaints provide a roadmap to guide prompt investigations and the imposition of appropriate sanctions,” noted John Montgomery, an LDAD board member and former managing partner of Ropes & Gray.