A birther lawsuit challenging Ted Cruz’s eligibility was filed today in federal court in Texas. I had previously written that such a lawsuit challenging the eligibility would most certainly lack standing and would be frivolous. The lawyer who filed the complaint, Newton B. Schwartz, Sr., had been suspended from the practice of law by two separate states for disciplinary infractions.

According to the detailed disciplinary ruling against Schwartz in Louisiana, he engaged in legal matters in Louisiana but was never admitted to practice law in the state and never sought temporary admission. (You can read the lengthy disciplinary case against Schwartz here).

The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed formal charges against Schwartz on July 19, 2011. In February 2014, Schwartz was suspended from attempting to practice law in Louisiana.

Louisiana disciplinary counsel alleged that Schwartz had a swarm of ethical violations. They include “engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”

Schwartz was also barred from practicing in Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Schwartz consented to his suspension from the practice of law in Pennsylvania.

Schwartz remains a member of the Texas Bar.