Libby Is Disbarred in Washington

I. Lewis Libby’s career suffered another blow today as a result of the investigation into a C.I.A. leak in 2003, this one from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia:

It is hereby ORDERED that I. Lewis Libby, Jr. is disbarred from the practice of law in the District of Columbia, and his name shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys authorized to practice before this court.

The former aide to Vice President Cheney was suspended from practicing law in the nation’s capital since his conviction on four counts, but that is not enough for disbarment. The key factor, the ruling said, was whether he was guilty of “moral turpitude” in any of those charges, all stemming from lies during the inquiry.

The judges decided that three of the four charges qualified. “This court has held that obstruction of justice and perjury are crimes of moral turpitude,” the ruling said. The fourth conviction — for lying to F.B.I. investigators asking about Mr. Libby’s conversations with Tim Russert of NBC — did not make the cut.

The ruling [pdf] was widely expected and not contested by Mr. Libby, who expected to lose his license, according to his lawyer. “This action is required by the rules following a conviction regardless of the merits of the case,” William Jeffress told The Associated Press.

Mr. Libby was the only official charged by the special prosecutor, Patrick J. Fitzgerald. His sentence of 30 months in prison was commuted by President Bush, who called it “excessive” while noting that “our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth.” Mr. Libby was left with a $250,000 fine, which has been paid as he serves out two years of probation.

In December, Mr. Bush pardoned 29 convicts, but none named Libby.