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Jack Thompson Facing Disbarment Trial

Posted by Zonk on from the facing-the-music dept.

pwizard2 writes "Gamepolitics reports that controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson faces the start of an ethics trial this morning, a process which could ultimately see him disbarred. The review board has set aside the entire week to hear details on the case. 'Over the weekend, Thompson turned to the Florida Supreme Court in an apparent effort to block this morning's trial from moving forward. In one court filing Thompson asserted that he was willing to accept a 90-day suspension of his license to practice law. The embattled attorney claimed that such an offer had been on the table, but that the Florida Bar was now seeking his permanent disbarment.'"

9 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cry me a river by radarjd · · Score: 5, Informative

    With all his antics, I think a disbarment is pretty much in the cards. The biggest question is, and I don't know enough about the process to know whether this could happen, if he can get accepted into the bar anyplace else. Disbarment is considered an extremely serious sanction -- it basically takes away a person's main livelihood, so it's good that it's a relatively slow and deliberative process. The argument, of course, is that a person's actions render him or her unfit to practice. Fraud against clients or the court are generally considered the most serious infractions. That said, it may well be warranted in this case.

    As for being admitted someplace else, each state has different requirements, but all have some sort of ethics requirement. Being disbarred in one state is serious enough that it would likely be quite difficult to pass the ethics requirements of another state.

  2. Re:WHY?! by Asic+Eng · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here is some helpful info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attorney) From their page:

    In February 2007, the Florida Bar filed disbarment proceedings against Thompson over allegations of professional misconduct. The action was the result of separate grievances filed by people claiming that Thompson made defamatory, false statements and attempted to humiliate, embarrass, harass or intimidate them.[115] According to the complaint, Thompson accused attorney Cardenas of "distribution of pornography to children," claimed that the Alabama judge presiding over the Devin Moore case "breaks the rules, even the Alabama State Bar Rules, because he thinks that the rules don't apply to him," and sent a letter to Blank Rome's managing partner, saying, "Your law firm has actively and knowingly facilitated by various means the criminal distribution of sexual material to minors." Thompson claims that the complaints violate state religious protections because his advocacy is motivated by his Christian faith.

  3. The 90 days was HIS idea, not theirs by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Informative

    The 90 days disbarment was an 'offer' from his side, it has NOT been offered to him, so it was not HIS to take but rather the bar's(?)

    The fact that he tried this, suggests he really is worried. He might have good reason.

    He is making lawyers look bad, yes "they replaced rats with lawyers in lab experiments, because the scientists don't bond with them like they do with rats" lawyers and I can't help but feel that NOT finding him guilty won't make them look any better.

    I think he will go down on this. Offcourse that won't stop him, just because he is no longer a lawyer doesn't mean he can't speak up.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:The 90 days was HIS idea, not theirs by rahvin112 · · Score: 2, Informative

      You don't get disbarred for making lawyers look bad, lawyers in general always look bad because one side always loses. You get disbarred for ethical violations. His use of deliberately misleading, unscientific and downright false data in his lawsuits along with frivolous and baseless lawsuits simply apparently only for press attention is what's going to bring him down.

  4. Re:Is there joy in having your opponent removed by jcr · · Score: 4, Informative

    I mean really it's not like he's truly evil

    Yes, it is. An evil person, by definition, is one who does evil things. Thompson seeks to impose his values on others through malicious, frivolous litigation, slander, and harassment. That's evil, even if he himself believes otherwise.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  5. Re:Cry me a river by Jaysyn · · Score: 5, Informative

    I agree. Submitting gay porn to the court in order to make the attorney that is practicing against you look bad is generally frowned upon.

    http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/26/jack-thompson-submits-gay-porn-to-court-judge-not-amused/

    --
    There is a war going on for your mind.
  6. Re:Can't wait by KDR_11k · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary.

    Christian, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the spiritual needs of his neighbour. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  7. Re:WHY?! by ls+-la · · Score: 3, Informative

    He didn't accuse them of "distribution of child pornography," he accused them of distribution of pornography *to* children. Not the same thing at all.

  8. Disbarment != no livelyhood for lawyers. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    All being on the bar does is allow you to practice law in a courtroom. One can still do lawyerly things that do no involve acting like Matlock. Example, teaching. There are MULTITUDES of law profs who have never set foot in a courtroom, and yet are the ones training the new crop of lawyers. Tax lawyers, patent law, etc. And quite frankly, trial lawyering is really a small part of the law scene.