Kari Lake’s lawyer suspended for lying to Arizona Supreme Court

Kari Lake speaks to attendees of AmericaFest 2023 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix on December 17, 2023.

A lawyer representing Kari Lake in a case seeking to overturn her loss to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial election has been suspended from the practice of law for lying to the state Supreme Court.

In a petition to the Supreme Court, Bryan Blehm claimed it was an “indisputable fact” that tens of thousands of fraudulent ballots were planted in the election.

“Although Lake may have argued that one could infer that some ballots were added, there is no evidence that 35,563 ballots were added, and, more importantly, this was certainly denied by the defendants,” said an order by Chief Judge Robert Brutinel, ordering Blehm to pay a $2,000 fine. “The claim that this is an ‘undisputed fact’ is therefore clearly false.”

The testimony also led to a complaint with the Arizona State Bar, which asked a disciplinary committee to disqualify Blehm from practicing law in the state for six months and one day.

The length of the Bar Association’s application for suspension is important because lawyers who have been suspended for more than six months face a significant burden when they must apply for reinstatement after the suspension has expired.

“An attorney suspended for more than six months shall apply for reinstatement and undergo a rigorous investigation and evidentiary hearing,” said an order from a disciplinary committee comprising a judge, an attorney and a member of the public. “Among other things, such an applicant for reinstatement shall demonstrate his or her rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence.”

Although the panel acknowledged that Blehm had “violated fundamental ethical duties to the legal system and the profession,” it opted for a shorter suspension of 60 days, followed by one year of probation.

“The defendant has steadfastly refused to admit any wrongdoing or even negligent missteps,” the ruling states.

Blehm continues to make public statements and post on social media repeating debunked claims of widespread voter fraud in Arizona.

However, the panel opted for the shorter suspension, which entails a less onerous reinstatement process, because it was the first time Blehm had been disciplined by the Arizona State Bar.

“Ultimately, however, the hearing panel concludes that a long-term suspension for a first offense that, while serious, involves relatively isolated and easily identifiable false statements is excessive,” the order states. “However, should the defendant commit ethical misconduct in the future, a more severe penalty may well be warranted.”

Blehm did not respond to a request for comment.

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