Jack Thompson Sanctioned

High-profile videogame opponent Jack Thompson will no longer be able to file documents in Florida court following a ruling on a show cause order issued last month.

According to a GamePolitics report, the Florida Supreme Court has sanctioned Thompson, meaning if he wishes to file documents with the Florida Court, he will have to hire an attorney to do so on his behalf. The action comes as the result of a show cause order issued in February which said Thompson must "show cause on or before March 5, 2008, why this Court should not find that you have abused the legal process and impose upon you a sanction for abusing the legal system," which would include the rejection of any future filings submitted by Thompson himself. At the time, Thompson called the order "the single greatest gift any court has ever given (him)" and claimed he would "deconstruct" the Florida Bar by way of a federal lawsuit.

In its ruling, the Court pointed out that Thompson had been warned that he would face sanction if he continued his inappropriate filings, but that despite this, "Thompson has submitted over fifty filings directly with this Court, all of which have either been forwarded to the referee, dismissed, or denied. Additionally, Thompson's most recent filings are repetitive, frivolous, and, like his earlier ones, insulting to the Court." The ruling went on to describe one of his most recent filings in which Thompson "pasted images depicting swastikas, kangaroos in court, a reproduced dollar bill, cartoon squirrels, Paul Simon, Paul Newman, Ray Charles, a handprint with the world "SLAP!" written under it, Bar Governor Benedict P. Kuehne, a baby, Ed Bradley, Jack Nicholson, Justice Clarence Thomas, Julius Caesar, monkeys, and a house of cards."

Noting Thompson's ongoing "ignorance as to the rules of procedure, forum selection, and timing," the Court wrote, "In sanctioning Thompson, we are requiring him to retain qualified counsel so that his arguments might be properly presented through the appropriate procedures in the appropriate forum. We do not limit such counsel's ability to challenge the referee's findings and recommendations on review. What we cannot tolerate, however, is Thompson's continued inability to maintain a minimum standard of decorum and respect for the judicial system to which all litigants, and especially attorneys, must adhere."

In an emailed response, referred to the Court's order as both "good news" and "idiotic." The full text of the Florida Supreme Court sanction of Jack Thompson is available here. (PDF format)

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Bwah-haha! *points and laughs*

This is far from a surprise, given Jacko's past antics. I do remain somewhat interested in seeing what future shenannigans he'll perpetrate, though, now that he has to find some other Batson D. Belfrey, Attorney-at-Law, to front for him.

-- Steve

It tastes like justice. Warm, thick, justice.

The best drama on earth continues! I do hope Jacko raises hell about this in the supreme court.

Bad form Jacky, don't bite the hand of the court system you want to work for you. That hand'll bitchslap you. :D

The ruling went on to describe one of his most recent filings in which Thompson "pasted images depicting swastikas, kangaroos in court, a reproduced dollar bill, cartoon squirrels, Paul Simon, Paul Newman, Ray Charles, a handprint with the world "SLAP!" written under it, Bar Governor Benedict P. Kuehne, a baby, Ed Bradley, Jack Nicholson, Justice Clarence Thomas, Julius Caesar, monkeys, and a house of cards."

This man is a hero. Well, he would be deemed as one if he hadn't gone on a solo crusade against one of the most powerful franchises in video gaming. Still; look at that report. Who can say that this man is sane now, eh?

Melty Blood:
It tastes like justice. Warm, thick, justice.

Justice tastes like Minestrone Soup?

So, he's been hobbled. Let's move on and hope that he fades into the dark shadows of our past. He really gets far more press than he should.

Nice to see that SOMEONE saw through all his BS and finally did something about it. Hooray Florida government!

Huh...I wonder whose going to become the next crusader against video games now.

............. AWESOME!!!

L.B. Jeffries:
Huh...I wonder whose going to become the next crusader against video games now.

If you're fast enough, it could be YOU!!

j-e-f-f-e-r-s:

Melty Blood:
It tastes like justice. Warm, thick, justice.

Justice tastes like Minestrone Soup?

Something like that.

When the facts aren't on your side pound the law. When the law isn't on your side pound the facts. When neither is on your side pound the podium.

Eventually the people who own the podium get irritated if you're pounding it every time you come to court. Here's hoping the Florida Bar reduces him to "Lay-idiot."

According to a GamePolitics report, the Florida Supreme Court has sanctioned Thompson, meaning if he wishes to file documents with the Florida Court, he will have to hire an attorney to do so on his behalf.

So he just has to hire another wacko.

Fondant:

L.B. Jeffries:
Huh...I wonder whose going to become the next crusader against video games now.

If you're fast enough, it could be YOU!!

Hey man, just pointing out the inevitable. The sun rises in the East, old people drive slow, and some other numb nut is going to try to sue video game companies for something.

He seems to have a pathological disorder, suurrriously who files 50 court documents in that time?

and Kangaroos are seriously clutch.

Nice.

There are some things that make me happy. Justice is one of them.

Asymptote Angel:
Nice to see that SOMEONE saw through all his BS and finally did something about it. Hooray Florida government!

One of the few things that we've gotten right here in the Sunshine State.

Bear in mind that this matter is unrelated to the ongoing disbarment proceedings Thompson is facing. This is another matter entirely, and in my largely uninformed opinion a gentle tap on the shoulder compared to the judicial bitchslapping that awaits him should the disbarment effort against him succeed.

I just love the way that Court Order ended:

"All other pending petitions, motions, and requests for relief filed by Thompson are hereby denied without prejudice.
It is so ordered."

It just sounds so complete, so epic, so commandingly final. I can't wait to read the Court Order for his disbarment, because the list of things they bring against him there will truly be epic. I wonder if anyone online has a complete listing (with the pictures) of all the items Jack has submitted to the court.

A victory for common sense, a small one but a victory nonetheless. Good stuff.