Jack Thompson Recommended For Permanent Disbarment

The night is growing darker for Jack Thompson: The judge in his misconduct hearing has recommended he be disbarred for life and slapped with some pretty hefty legal costs in the bargain.

We talk a lot about Jack sometimes, and maybe we give him a little too much attention when he kicks up a fuss, but with his career as an attorney apparently winding down it's worth documenting the final, spectacular flameout of one of gaming's most strident and high-profile critics. The official recommendation from Judge Dava Tunis, based on a hearing held in March, recommends Thompson be disbarred permanently, with no opportunity to apply for reinstatement, and also that he be penalized a minimum of $43,675.35 in legal costs.

The harsh recommendation came in the form of a 169-page document, described by Tunis as "atypically detailed and extensive," but also necessary due to "the number of separate complaints and Rule violations alleged, the period of time involved and the volume of evidence presented which spans over two decades." The reasons behind Tunis' decision are varied and many, but most come down to Thompson's irrational and self-aggrandizing antics both in and out of the courtroom, and his flat, longstanding refusal to modify his behavior. Tunis refers to numerous statements made by Thompson to various judges and other individuals, including gems like telling Judge Ronald Friedman, "You're the kind of guy who would wave into an intersection a child to be run over by a semi," and thanking Judge James Moore for "setting such a low standard of public morals." Judge Tunis herself comes in for some choice commentary from Thompson, who recently called her a "wild woman" and suggested she was mentally impaired.

Tunis said the Thompson issue didn't involve any single "isolated incident" but was instead a matter of "cumulative misconduct, a repeated pattern of behavior relentlessly forced upon numerous unconnected individuals, a total lack of remorse or even slight acknowledgment of inappropriate conduct, and continued behavior consistent with the previous public reprimand." Thompson's actions over the course of the proceedings were also taken into consideration as an aggravating factor; Tunis said Thompson is essentially beyond rehabilitation, and fails to "even remotely appreciate the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted."

"Over a very extended period of time involving a number of totally unrelated cases and individuals, the Respondent has demonstrated a pattern of conduct to strike out harshly, extensively, repeatedly and willfully to simply try to bring as much difficulty, distraction and anguish to those he considers in opposition to his causes," she continued. "He does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose him."

Thompson's final fate won't be decided until September, but based on Tunis' thorough and unwavering assessment and recommendation, it seems very likely that his career as an attorney is over. Where he goes after that is anyone's guess, although he has implied in the past that the withdrawal of his license to practice law would have no bearing on his anti-videogame crusade. While he could no doubt find like-minded audiences for his efforts against the industry, his lack of wider credibility in the wake of a permanent disbarment would leave him almost completely marginalized.

It's long and legal but still kind of fun, so anyone who wants to read Judge Dava Tunis' recommendation of a permanent disbarment for Jack Thompson in its entirety may download the document, in PDF format, here.

Source: GamePolitics

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It's long past time that this blemish on the legal profession was removed. JT was an appallingly bad lawyer, whether you agree with his stance on censorship or not, and his numerous mistakes in court and his many deliberate bad acts reflected poorly on the Bar and the American court system as a whole. Judge Tunis' decision is probably the only one that reflects any dignity back upon the court.

So much for my attempt at an unbiased stance. Now, as a gamer... (*terrorist fist-jab with fellow gamers*)

-- Steve

Call me pessimistic, but I have a feeling a Jack Thomson 2.0 will come as soon as this one is thrown out.

Son of a bitch, took you guys this long to make the recommendation?

SilentHunter7:
Call me pessimistic, but I have a feeling a Jack Thomson 2.0 will come as soon as this one is thrown out.

Shhhh, don't jinx it.

that made me giggle, who would have thunk that saying the judge has no power and other nasty things would cause them to recommend permanent disbarment?

the sad part is if he's disbarred he will just go on fox news as a legal commentator :|

I'm sure it will, but in a broader sense that will be their downfall as well as his legacy. Anyone who pushes the issues in the same way he did (2.0, as it were) will be compared to him by the community, and being compared to a disgraced bumbling idiot is never a good thing.

Jack did us all a favor by having this melt down while thinking that he was untouchable due to his standing amongst the "moral elite". Let's all stand by and watch his swan song with glee.

*Fist jab*

I wonder if he ever had to deal with a case or he just had a law degree so it would look pretty on his wall.

Any way, nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hay hay hay, goodbye.

Edit: any violence toward the JT machine by gamers will just give his dark soul more coal for the fire. It's too much fun to pass up though.

*kick to peanut sized balls*

So, the US justice system does work... /jk

It's good to finally hear that this propaganda machine, masquerading as a lawyer, has been put to rest. Who knows, he may come back in his in-human, ultimate form... then we'll need either a rag-tag bunch of angsty teenagers (of course showing us the power of friendship/love) or one lone Marine drowning in ammo casings to save the day. Or Gordon Freeman.

Everyone in Florida, hit the decks!! He's about to go into his death throes!!

EDIT: Seriously, I just picture the melting scene from The Wizard of Oz when I read this

I guess this cheers me up a little after hearing about Fallout. One down, (X number) to go!

HalfShadow:
Jack Thompson reminds me of Jesus Christ: I refuse to believe he exists and I'd like to see him nailed to a tree.

† That comment could be taken poorly by certain parties. Namely the roughly 2 billion believers in Jesus Christ. †

Not to mention your active desire to NAIL HIM TO A TREE.

I mean jesus that's pretty messed up.

Where he goes after that is anyone's guess, although he has implied in the past that the withdrawal of his license to practice law would have no bearing on his anti-videogame crusade. While he could no doubt find like-minded audiences for his efforts against the industry, his lack of wider credibility in the wake of a permanent disbarment would leave him almost completely marginalized.

No doubt Thompson'll become an anti-video game consultant for any group with the selection bias to see him as a martyr. Having him sanctioned professionally is great, and severely sanctioned is wonderful; but as a freelancer he won't be accountable to anyone-I mean, beyond self-respect and common human decency, but he's obviously given me no reason to expect that. And certainly there are enough baseless outlets out there, let's say FOX News, willing enough to set him in front of a microphone and goad him on. But then who can yank his leash? Disgrace is deserved and welcomed but I'd like to see him continue to be under someone's thumb, so that part of his career can't be ignored or forgotten, and he can still get a good professional spanking now and then.

actually jesus is proven they have records of his trial but thats besides the point i hope jack thompson gets the worst they can give

fat american:
Any way, nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hay hay hay, goodbye.

It's a losing battle convincing people of this, but I must try. It's wa-a-ave. Wave drawn out to three syllables. Otherwise, my sentiments exactly.

stompy:
So, the US justice system does work... /jk

Now, now, he hasn't been disbarred yet. I have enough faith in the American justice system to accept the possibility the even though this should have happened long ago, he may just get off scot-free. But the fact that a judge has had enough of his bullshit to finally do something about it, it enough to make me raise my glass... err, aluminum can... to the possibility.

cleverlymadeup:
the sad part is if he's disbarred he will just go on fox news as a legal commentator :|

...

DAMMIT! That would happen, wouldn't it? And then...

SilentHunter7:
Call me pessimistic, but I have a feeling a Jack Thomson 2.0 will come as soon as this one is thrown out.

I don't call that pessimism. I call that a given. I'm not entirely sure why Jack 2.0 hasn't come along already. Well, at least there ought to be a couple of days between Jack 1.0 being disbarred and hired by Fox (or CNN), and Jack 2.0 coming along, so to that, I again raise my aluminum can and make a toast.

To a couple of days of peace. They can't come soon enough.

I prefer Ding Dong the witch is dead myself.

But anyway, Good riddance

Jack Thompson may be disbared?

Har Har Har.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Doesn't Mr. Thompson have a profile on this site?

I know how the phrase "LOL" is said just to acknowledge a funny joke, but I literally burst out laughing while reading that and it goes to show you that this wasn't some anti-video game nutjob, this was a WIDELY known nutjob that could piss you off whether you were a gamer, gay, Muslim, a liberal, a judge, anybody who wasn't as bible-thumpingly psychotic as him or even any permutation of the above.

The eventuality of Jacky-boy buddying up with Fox News doesn't bother me because its expected when you consider Ann Coulter is already among them and she's gone on record mocking 9/11 widows, so really its just one more loony for the loony bin. Besides, NO sane person takes Fox News seriously.

HalfShadow:
Jack Thompson reminds me of Jesus Christ: I refuse to believe he exists and I'd like to see him nailed to a tree.

You don't believe he exists but you but you wanna see him nailed to a tree? wtf? That doesn't work.

And uh, who is Jack Thompson? Never heard of the bloke.

And thus heaven did open, and mohammad, buddha and jesus said,"suck it thompson!!"
Finally this stupid holier than thou retard finally gets what he deserves(knock wood)
I mean the guy called muslim's pirates, gamers sons of satan, gays as the spawn of hell... yea
But seriously, I'm still wondering why they didn't just give him the bloody death penalty, I mean that's what he wanted to give gamers
(p.s. this is a (to me) unbiased account, not as a gamer or muslim. now, as a gaming muslim)
*fist jab*

Thank you, Florida! You've finally kicked this bully in his nuts and dragged him out of your halls of justice where he was befouling your carpets and generally making you look bad - not to mention irratingly half the world, bullying, harassing, and just generally being insane.

I salute you, US state

Can I get a Hallelujah? I said, can I get a Hallelujah??? HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!

I'm glad this inevitability finally became real. I guess this makes up for Florida bungling a certain election, so now it's kind of a wash.

Still I wish that minimum in legal penalty costs had a few more zeroes on it.

I don't know what to say except it's about time!!!

To the guy who asked who he is, he is a Lawyer (soon to be former-lawyer, yay!) who has, as other people said, been trying to outlaw anything not foot-washing baptist (no disrespect toward not-foot-washing baptists), including gaming. I never really payed much attention to him up to this point, though, so I only really knew about him being against gamers. Hell, I thought he was a senator ;)

God it fuken took them long enough. Jacks been a asshole for soo long now. Buy yeah 40k for all the shit hes put everyone thru. Throw another 0 on that and id be happy and while youre at it do the same to Uwe Boll. >.>

avykins:
Uwe Boll

Hush, don't mention his name, else he'll appear and force you to watch 3 of his movies back to back, without even toilet breaks.

Ah, a good day for gamer kind.

Still, I doubt that disbarrment will stop him and his crusade, unfortunately...

Radelaide:
And uh, who is Jack Thompson? Never heard of the bloke.

Right here .

Message to Jack Thompson.....you reap what you sow

Enjoy the good news while it lasts. He'll be back. Like a bad meal, or a malignant cancer.

john.smith.100@hotmail.com

I wonder if Uwe Boll has ever even played a video game, or at least the ones he makes movies of because house of the dead had nothing to do with the actual arcade games that kick more ass than Uwe at boxing. I think his movies are ok I just wish he would come up with material instead of blatenly ripping off video games to make a profit. Postal is just around the bend and I've never played the game but I can tell it has nothing to do with the original story line.

Edit: I have a question. What happened to Fallout 3?

yippee!!