Jack Thompson Guilty on 27 of 31 Misconduct charges

[Brandon]

So he finally got whats coming to him

Link: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/05/20/jack-thompson-guilty-27-31-misconduct-charges-says-bar-trial-judge-fl-supreme-court-must-

The judge who presided over Jack Thompson's Florida Bar trial late last year has recommended that the controversial attorney be found guilty on 27 of 31 professional misconduct charges. The Florida Supreme Court must now rule on those recommendations.

In a report issued last week, Judge Dava Tunis writes:

After considering the arguments presented by the Florida Bar and the Respondent (Thompson), observing the Respondent's demeanor during the nine-day trial proceedings, and carefully reviewing the record consisting of four volumes of exhibits totaling 1700 pages and approximately 2400 pages of transcribed testimony, the Court finds that the facts, circumstances and evidence presented regarding the Respondent's conduct, supports a finding of guilt as to certain Florida Bar rules...

Tunis made 21 recommendations of guilt in relation to Thompson's participation in Strickland vs. Sony, an Alabama case in which the anti-game attorney represented the families of two police officers and a police dispatcher slain by 18-year-old Grand Theft Auto player Devin Moore.

Tunis also recommended that Thompson be found guilty on four out of five counts relating to his 2006 attempt to have Rockstar's Bully declared a public nuisance in a case before Miami Judge Ronald Friedman. An additional two guilty counts stemmed from a non-video game matter.

Among the Florida Bar offenses for which Judge Tunis has recommended a guilty verdict:

Knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal
Knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal
Communicating the merits of the case with a judge before whom the proceeding is pending
Using means that have no purpose other than to embarrass, delay or burden a third person
Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
Engaging in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, including to knowingly or through callous indifference disparage or humiliate litigants or other lawyers
Making statements that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge
Judge Tunis's full report to the Florida Supreme Court is due on September 2nd. In the meantime, a disciplinary hearing regarding possible sanctions against Thompson will be held before Judge Tunis on June 4th.

For his part, Thompson has made a number of allegations concerning Judge Tunis, including a complaint that state-mandated loyalty oaths were either not signed by the judge or were signed by others. Thompson also has filed federal lawsuits against the Florida Bar and Florida Supreme Court in relation to the Bar charges and other sanctions.

[Sabby]

The only thing I'm confused about is how such a nuisance could go this long before being picked up on. Someone releases an offensive art piece, he's dealt with quickly. Someone harasses the court system to further his own goals, it takes them this damn long to give him the GTFO.

[kongming]

May I suggest a public holiday in recognition of this event?

[MadPanda]

YAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!

But...wait!  What the frell is that about unsigned loyalty oaths?  Somebody get Colonel Cathcart on the line!  Make that judge sign an extra couple to get his gavel back.

And then bill Thompson for the nine days of the judge's time he's taken.

[HairyHeretic]

Has he been found guilty yet, or is that just saying the judge recommends he be found guilty?

[Sabby]

Its only the recommendation so far. And naturally, Thompson has filed the papers to prove the Judge is an idiot and will go to hell for trying to silence his good crusade.

[HairyHeretic]

But of course  :)

[Sabby]

Its why we love him ^^ and its why GamePolitics gets so many hits. But sometimes, enough is enough.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Can't all these crusaders who want to make the world a better place just...get off their asses and help people who actually need help?  You know, feed the homeless, help out in a soup kitchen, sponsor children in Africa or Central America, read to the blind, help people spay and neuter their pets?  Things that actually...you know, make the world a better place?

Guess the limelight for those things isn't quite big enough to feed their egos...

[Brandon]

And a new update

After finding him responsible for 27 separate instances of professional misconduct, the Florida Bar has requested that controversial Miami attorney and anti-gaming activist Jack Thompson be disbarred for 10 years, reports GamePolitics.

Thompson wrote a "lengthy objection" in response to the request, but after being barred from reading it aloud, Thompson reportedly "stormed out of the hearing." Judge Dava Tunis did allow Thompson to submit his response to the court record, however.

News of the Florida Bar's request comes only a month and a half after the Florida Supreme Court forbade Thompson from representing himself in any further filings with the court.

Source: http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/06/bar-requests-10.html

[HairyHeretic]

What's the odds he'll show up as a talking head 'expert' on Fox Propaganda sometime soon?

[kongming]

So, now that the Florida Bar made that request, what does it actually mean? Who actually passes a sentence based on this? How long between "Bar makes request" and "Crazy old man can't play lawyer any more"?

At any rate, I declare a public holiday and day of feasting when it happens.

[Sabby]

At any rate, I declare a public holiday and day of feasting when it happens.

Way ahead of ya ;D

[Heika Kinzoku]

Stormed out of his own hearing. CLASSIC Jack. ^^

I'll join you at the feast!

[Sabby]

We'll celebrate by loading up the anti-video games lawyer assassination mission of GTA4. No better way to celebrate then gunning down what Jack believes to be him.

[kongming]

Remember of course that GTA wasn't his only target. He also hated The Sims, because they had "realistic genitalia"* underneath the mosaic blurs. Mosaic blurs that could only be removed by applying a fan-made patch. That's right, if you wanted to see that kind of stuff in the Sims, you'd need to download two patches. You have just gone through way more effort than is necessary to find pornography on the internet.

So this means that "Team Nipples" has won. I might celebrate by buying some nice body lotion to treat my nipples to.

*Lies. They're "Barbie dolls" unless you decide you want to apply a fan-made patch to give them such parts.

[Brandon]

Im just glad that justice has been served and the courts have said that just because you're a religous wacko you arent right *nods sagely*

[Sabby]

Justice should have been served a long time ago. His stupidity was his saving grace, but now he's getting more annoying then entertaining.

[Heika Kinzoku]

Justice should have been served a long time ago. His stupidity was his saving grace, but now he's getting more annoying then entertaining.

He's been that for a while. I never could understand why people seemed to enjoy his antics. Sometimes it only takes one crazy nutcase to mess everything up ...

[Sabby]

And sometimes it takes one crazy nutcase to change things. Now that this is all drawing to a close (no doubt hes going down in a flaming glory, as he claims, rediculously, he has the entire Florida board on the verge of getting thrown in jail) hopefully, future idiots like him will be dealt with a lot quicker because of Jacks example.

[kongming]

More importantly, with any luck he has damaged his cause. I mean, you do realise that if a sane and sensible person had decided to target video games, they could have had a lot of success, don't you? Especially when political figures (namely, anyone trying to scrape up some media attention for a couple of votes) will so easily adopt any cause (due to being easily led or not caring and just wanting to be seen doing something).

[Heika Kinzoku]

Yeah, but I think crazy whackos are just as likely to be successful in garnering attention as sane, credible people. Often after the crazy whacko comes, the sensible person follows. And then there could be issues.

[HairyHeretic]

Have you read the statement he wanted to read to the court? Its linked there. He is *not* going to win friends and influence people with that one.

[Sabby]

Actually, I haven't... *goes to correct this*

Dude... why is he up for an American Hero Award? >.>