(CNN) — Jenna Ellis was censured by a Colorado disciplinary judge on Wednesday, in the latest effort to hold accountable lawyers who boosted the 2020 election rollback tactics of former President Donald Trump.
Ellis signed a stipulation stating that several comments he made about the 2020 election violated professional ethics rules that prohibit intentional, knowing or reckless misrepresentations by attorneys, according to documents released by the Colorado Office of Lawyers Regulation. As part of the stipulation, Ellis agreed to pay $224.
Among the false statements highlighted in the stipulation were comments by Ellis on social media and in television appearances that claimed the Trump campaign had proof that the election had been “stolen.”
“The public censure on this issue reinforces that even if they engage in political speech, there is a line that lawyers cannot cross, particularly when speaking in an agent capacity,” said Jessica Yates, attorney regulatory counsel for the US Supreme Court. Colorado, in a statement.
Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell, right, lawyers for President Donald Trump, hold a news conference at the Republican National Committee on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Trump’s lawyer Rudolph Giuliani also attended. Credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Michael Melito, Ellis’ attorney, told CNN in a statement: “My client continues to be a practicing attorney in good standing in the state of Colorado. In a very heated political climate, we have secured that correct result.”
The censorship was first reported by Colorado Newsline.
The provision was approved by Disciplinary Presiding Judge Bryon M. Large Wednesday in an opinion published along with the judge’s censure.
The Lawyer Regulation Attorney’s office had previously indicated it was preparing a charge against Ellis, but with the announcement of the ban, the office said in a statement that “no further charges will currently be filed against Ms. Ellis.”
