Based on my following the legal profession informally for a while, it takes a lot for a lawyer to be disbarred in the USA. Most state Bars are reluctant to disbar lawyers for malfeasance or bad behavior. It seems that stealing money and violent conduct are required (or a combination of both) to get yourself disbarred. Most other disciplinary actions involve temporary suspensions and/or fines.
However, once in a while some lawyers behave so egregiously badly that a state Bar decides to permanently lower the boom on their practice of law in that state. This is one such example.
