Pair Arrested After Telling Lawyer Jokes

fembots writes "Two men were arrested for telling lawyer jokes while standing in line leading into First District Court. A spokesman for the Nassau courts said the men were causing a stir and that their exercise of their First Amendment rights to free speech was impeding the rights of others at the court."

Comments

I dunno, something smells fishy...

[Skyshadow]

Okay, my first reaction: Petty abuse of power? By a lawyer? There's got to be some mistake.

Reading the article, however, makes me wonder if we're really getting the whole story here. Given that these aren't just two random individuals but the founders of "Americans for Legal Reform", I personally smell an increased likelyhood that their side of things contains a certain amount of BS. Of course it's just my gut instinct talking and your milage may vary.

Unfortunately this level of doubt precludes the normal level of moral outrage (aka, "hits" or "ad impressions") that these threads are supposed to generate, and for that I apologize.

Now, answer me this: How many RIAA lawyers does it take to screw in a light blub?

Here's a joke

[Anonymous Coward]

Slashdot Editors!

(Psst... make a "Law" category rather than stuff everything into YRO.)

It's Long Island - what do you expect???

[solafide]

Rude, uncivil, etc. Why were they there anyway? Learn your manners and respect other peoples opinions! Especially in front of the lawyer - how dumb was that?

Sorry for the rant, but what fool calls lawyers names to their faces?
Billy

Re:It's Long Island - what do you expect???

[Anonymous Coward]

Christ. Think about that for a second. Lawyers are not gods. They are almost certainly NOT better people than you. I have no difficulty telling a lawyer that I'll assume she's a conniving bitch until she proves otherwise - you shouldn't either. The article is right on the money - lawyers want to control you, and with your attitude, you're letting them. The burgeoning lawyerocracy will have to be stopped fairly soon. Pick a set of ethical guidelines and live by them. Don't confuse what is legal and what is right. Above all, don't elevate lawyers to new nobility.

Discretion / judgement / intelligence

[winkydink]

In general, acting like an asshole in the presence of law enforcement is a bad idea. You may not get convicted, but chances are really good you will get arrested.

Re:Discretion / judgement / intelligence

[Anonymous Coward]

And who determines what "an asshole" is? I got dark skin, some police officers think I'm an asshole by just being in their vicinity...

Ummm....

[fluxrad]

Last time I checked, standing outside a courthouse expressing disdain for lawyers is perfectly legal.

In some states, they even allow people to carry signs and march around in circles outside of buildings. In fact, from time to time, these sign wielding people will even chant repetative slogans (gasp). My friend, people have a right to protest, be it against abortion, creationism, blacks, whites, gays, white supremacists and yes...lawyers.

Do I think these guys are stupid douchebags? Of course.

Am I outraged that they were arrested for being stupid douchebags? You bet your ass I am.

Re:Slow news day?

[Glock27]

Oh, it pertains to no such thing. Drop the agenda-mongering and look at the facts of the case: Two men were causing a disturbance on government property. When given the opportunity to stop, they refused, knowing full well that they were in danger of being arrested on a misdemeanor charge.

How, exactly, were they "causing a disturbance"? Some people laughed? I mean, what exactly is the First Amendment about again? Did they yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater? I think not!

These boys weren't exercising their right to free speech. They were, deliberately and with malicious intent, making a public nuisance of themselves. And we have laws against that sort of thing.

I suspect the crowd of people in line were fine with the jokes...it offended one lawyer and the hammer came down. It is especially ironic given the "kings and peasants" analogy used in the article. (Did you read it BTW?)

The freedom of speech is not a freedom to be a shithead.

One person's shithead is another person's role model. THAT is the point of the first amendment. Just because you don't like it gives you no right to stop it. I mean, look at Jesse Jackson's marches through certain parts of the south...I guarantee that most people there think he's a shithead. However, he has the RIGHT to express his views.

"Facts" of the case according to whom?

[Ra5pu7in]

If you read the article, try to discover what is actually fact. Notice how no uninvolved people were interviewed - we only have the statements of the pair and a court official. Each of these people will, of course, spin the event their way. The majority of that article is little better than editorializing - filling in with opinion where facts are lacking.

Re:Slow news day?

[sglane81]

A wise man once told me that the right to free speech is not the freedom to say what you want. It is the freedom someone has to say things you don't want to hear.

Re:Slow news day?

[lachlan76]

Ok, I'm not in the US, but I was under the impression that it says thing like the government can't:

• Stop freedom of speech
• Stop you from arming yourselves
• Just arrest people for no reason

hmmmmm

[Marvelicious]

These guys were arrested for making fun of our laughable judicial system. Need proof that our judicial system is laughable? These guys were arrested for making fun of...

Sorry, if it was in a court room during a trial, sure, but all these guys did wrong was piss off the wrong people. Article mentions they are part of an organization to promote better public access to the courts. Obviously these two were a thorn in a side or two. Arresting them is pure abuse of power just to make a point.