Supreme Court On Jack Thompson Appeal: No Thanks
Jack Thompson’s appeal of his enhanced disbarment from the Florida Bar hit a bit of a snag on Monday, as the Supreme Court refused to hear his case.
The court’s decision not to grant Thompson a writ of Certiorari was pretty much a given, considering such a grant is reserved for only the most important cases that could change the face of law as we know it. Jack’s case appeared in a long list of cases denied such measures in a list of orders released Monday.
Thompson, however, has not yet begun to fight.
In response to [GamePolitics'] speculation that “the… decision almost certainly ends Thompson’s fight to have his permanent disbarment overturned,” – Not at all. I have four more options, all better than this one. This was the longest of shots. All four of the others are much, much shorter shots. Stay tuned. As Winston Churchill implored: “Never give in. Never, never, never, never, never.”
Powerful words indeed, though I believe that if Sir Winston Churchill were alive today and knew all the facts of this case he’d make an exception.
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Jack Thompson’s Appeal [GamePolitics]
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Give it a rest Thompson.
I'm all for protecting the children but not at the expense of the constitution.
Is Thompson equating his struggle to still be a lawyer to that of World War 2?
@+ Watch video
RawSteelUT
@Jaysunli: Screw the children! They won't stay out of my yard! And this frisbee is mine now!
ReaveT
@ex_nihilo: hes like the common pigeon or the humble flue... hes here if we like it or not
@Rusty Shackleford: Yeah...I'm depressed that our legal system ever recognized this nut as a lawyer.
kagekiri
@OutsideTheBox: He just likes to make a spectacle so that he gets reported on the news. And now I'm sure he'll go on fox, saying how this liberal government has refused to hear his case, and fox news will go on about how we're now in a totalitarian regime, blah blah blah.
Spenze
Too bad, a Supreme Court case focused on Thompson would probably be pretty entertaining.
@OutsideTheBox: This might have been the longest shot but it also might have been the most direct. If all the other options have the possibility of being tied up in appeals for years, I can see why he would go with the potentially quickest. If he had won here (I mean after getting the Court to agree to hear his case), he would be right back to practicing law.
Maybe he should go play some Phoenix Wright and learn how to be a decent lawyer :v
Meeeh
Also, as Winston Churchill would say, "those Suffragettes need to stop making a ruckus and contribute to society"
Shoemaster
Ha! Suck it Thompson!
Jack Thompson is so disbarred, not even Kotaku cares to write about him anymore...oh, wait.
If Jack thompson doesn't get his job back, we'll have nobody to pick on! this is awful:(
XCha0s
@Anemis: *slow clap*
@OutsideTheBox: GOOD lawyer? Common sense? Oh, you must not have heard of Jack Thompson before. None of those words apply to him, especially not "lawyer"...not anymore at least.
Rusty Shackleford
It's actually the fault of gaming sites that he is still around. Even AFTER he is gone for good, chances are he won't be. The gaming Illuminati will just keep talking about him because, well, because it's fun to ridicule the village idiot.
Invoking Churchill to burn Thompson.
EPIC
The best news I've heard all day. Good riddance, Jack. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
SagiMewtwo
Somehow I think Churchill meant his phrase to be taken in context, not applied to any and every little personal cause you choose to apply it to.
And personally, as much time-wasting as it may have caused, it probably would've shut him up a bit more if the appeal was heard and then utterly demolished in the course of that appeal rather than stopped before it had a chance to begin. That'll make him feel cheated, and then he'll try everything to get himself heard again, yadda yadda.
Is he worried that he'd cease to exist if he wasn't in the spotlight?
I can't say I'm surprised, he abused the system in ways that he shouldn't for too long. He is now paying the price.
I feel bad for the guy for getting disbarred (or anyone that loses a certification of any kind), that would suck royally, but he left them with no choice.
@OutsideTheBox: It's true, what he said doesn't make any sense. Long shots are gone for when all other options are exhausted. Although, given how foolish this man has proven himself in the past...
Hit the road, Jack, and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more!
Anemis
Mr. Thompson, you're objection has been overruled. Perhaps this is a sign that you're not a very good lawyer.
What, and sorry for the language, but what the fuck, has gaming done to mr thompson that he hates it so much?
Did donkey kong go his way with him or something?
zelfmoordkonijn
"Powerful words indeed, though I believe that if Sir Winston Churchill were alive today and knew all the facts of this case he'd make an exception."
Got my chuckle of the day.
@Jaysunli: He's just protecting the children FROM the constitution.
Spenze
Stick a signpost in him, he is DONE.
Well, if you wanna impale him on a Rose Bush, that's cool too.
RawSteelUT
What good lawyer (or anyone with common sense) takes the longest shot first when there are four other options with better chances?
OutsideTheBox
Why can't Thompson just go away?
I think Jack needs to learn the end of Churchill's quote:
"Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense."
Jack, it is time to give in to good sense.
@ReaveT: Screwing the children is probably illegal...
@roninalchemist: nha you think to small..
how about we get a hooker to bed him and take his money then after shes done the dirty KILL him - running over and over and over him is fine - and get her money back? hmmmm reminds me something *scratches head*
@RawSteelUT:In an ironic twist, I'd much rather catapult him to the giant sword on the replica of the statue of Justice in that castle...oh Madworld..such a fantastic game.
roninalchemist
If he has four better shots why didn't he do those first?
Oh, hit the road Jack.
@LittleDeadEpic! ....Hunting Akuma: Or better yet, stage him killing the hooker to get his money back in a state that still carries the death penalty.
Spenze
Then you have those people who whisper and carry big sticks.
@XCha0s: What about all the morons who do stupid stuff and blame it on video games? Can we still pick on them?
ankhenaten
I'm more curious what his "four shorter shots" could be. Uh, Jack, if you think you've got a "Shorter shot", why not use THAT instead of appealing to the Supreme Court?
Jack's probably thinking of something insane like a pardon from the governor or... heck, I can't think of anything stranger.
Mightion
@OutsideTheBox: I just read his quote as "blah blah blah empty threat I'll be back"
@Spenze:
Lol the goverment is even trying to "protect" us from the constitution...
I'm not sure where he can go from here since it is the highest court. Unless there another higher court he can get an appeal to? The Supreme supreme court maybe? Of course the existence of that court is denied by the government.
@ex_nihilo: Because he thinks video games are the cause of the world's problems and he's the Messiah that shall save us from the evil.
@Pombar:
Wasting the time of the Supreme Court and taxpayers' money to make Jack Thompson feel better does not seem like a great trade off to me. He asked for a writ of certiorari, and if it had been granted it would've made our judicial system look silly, and made Jack Thompson seem like someone with a valid argument.
Churchill: "Never give in... Except for you."
Oh, come on! if he had three other, more likely options, why the fuck would he go for the long shot first?! Stick a fork in this guy, already.
Transmission3000
@OutsideTheBox: I'm more upset that the Supreme Court only sees a couple hundred cases a year and they wasted one of them on this!
@Kynes: You mean look silly like beeing able to sue a company cause the coffee in one of their shops was to hot, or that no one told you that you shouldn't dry your pets in the microwave or that you can sue someone when you broke in their house to steal and did hurt yourself during that criminal act?
Don't get me wrong here, i absolutely have no intention to flame your country and stuff, but the reputation on that one is already quite a bite damaged. Well and then there is that one Prison on the corner of an small country. I know it is supposed to getting fixed rigth now...but even without that i do not know if it is really necessary to it get more worse than the reputation is already and rigth now.
pwnd
It's like I can see him sitting in the middle of the floor banging his feet on the ground yelling "NO NO NO NO NO!"
Seriously, who goes with plan 'E' when you have a plan 'A'...'B', 'C', and 'D'?
Score one for the legal system!
Yeah right Jackie, you really went for " the longest shot" first. That makes a lot sence.... You career is circiling the drain and in desperation to save your ass you take the MOST difficult path to reinstatement??? Give it up jerk wad. You just got sniped and teabagged by the Feds.
@theuglyteradon: I'm no law student or anything but it seems like they didn't waste anything. It sounds like they had a big list of cases who wanted that writ thingy, and they turned them down, Jacky boy included.
Alex Thompson
@fELIXADER: Disbarring Jack Thompson was a very small step in the right direction. Along with revoking the judges status that tried to sue the dry cleaner over 1 million for loosing his pants....but yes...the system is still completely flawed in many ways.
Reavyn29
Why would you start with the least likely to succeed choice as opposed to going with your best option. Its almost like he didn't want to overturn his disbarment.
goboard117
"Powerful words indeed, though I believe that if Sir Winston Churchill were alive today and knew all the facts of this case he'd make an exception."
I think Churchill would probably bitch slap Thompson for even mentioning his name at all.
@ankhenaten: of course we can. If they blame the game they have no dignity to lose.
knails
I wonder if any of you guys were around the last time someone talked about killing Thompson on here. Hilarity ensued.
KaneRobot
@ex_nihilo: Because Screwattack invites that guy to their convention.
PirateSquirrel
@Spike-Strife: Yes that would be the "Freedom from Freedoms" Act of 2006.
ChibaCityCowboy
@OutsideTheBox:
If all the shots are gonna take significant time, (like, multiple years, if my understanding of how crowded our courts are) then if *I* were Jack, I'd probably start the ball rolling on all 5 of 'em, regardless of which one I thought had the best odds of success.
That being said, I'd be willing to bet he just ends up taking the bar exam for some other state. From what I understand he's just banned for life in Florida.
GnatB
@OutsideTheBox: I am glad he went straight to the Supreme Court and got refused. He saved taxpayers a lot of money that way. I hope this is the last we hear of him.
@Jaysunli: Well said.
FrigidAir44
@XCha0s:
Don't worry, we still have Fox!
Meeeh
@SagiMewtwo: .....again.
@Kommissar Kayce: Abusing law is the same as fighting against an axis of powerful nations, right? RIGHT?
@Reavyn29: It is the laughingstock of the world.
I feel your pain.
@theuglyteradon: The Supreme Court is required to review all cert petitions and decide whether or not to hear the case. They're not really wasting any time on this.
Mr. Fluffykins
@Meeeh: HOLD IT!
@LittleDeadEpic! ....Hunting Akuma: Wait a minute... It's, like, backwards...
This is a case for Leonard J. Crabbs.
@Anemis: If I owned the Intarwebz, I'd award it to you.
Well Thomson could still be a "gaming expert adviser" for Fox News.
@The_IT_Crone:
"I'm seen therefore I am"? That's a disturbing mental condition to consider.
Alchemistmerlin
@OutsideTheBox: Exactly the man is bluffing.
I have four more options, all better than this one. This was the longest of shots. All four of the others are much, much shorter shots.
....why would you try your "longest shot" first?
Jim Gallo
@waywardchemist:
That's why you HAVE to go to the other options first. They exist to shield the Supremes from everybody, otherwise you'd get tens of thousands of cert petitions every year, and the Court would shut down.
Gotta agree this seemed like a publicity stunt more than anything else.
busboy33
I hope jack gets hit by 18 wheeler
@Headlam: Wht do you mean "probably"?
Any Lawyers here? Just wondering what kind of problems Jack would face if he simply took a bar exam/etc. for one of the other 49 states (and DC) where he is NOT banned for life.
Seems to me that'd be 50 other backup plans.
GnatB
This calls for a nothankyou.jpg with Chief Justice Roberts' face >.>
Norellicus
@fELIXADER:
I didn't qualify my statement suggesting that the American justice system is a shining paragon. You clearly did intend to flame, but it is such a non-issue (as even American will admit to countless flaws in our justice system) that no one even cared to discuss it with you.
My original statement stands.
@ShadowOdin, representing the people of Malmö, Sweden:
I'm not here to defend America's justice system, but if you're half as well cultured as you seem to imply then I'm sure you can think of numerous nations with far worse justice systems than the US.
Come to think of it, how did that Pirate Bay thing go? Just how does someone leak a trial verdict? I'm sure that's an exception to the rule though, right?
"You think you've won, but I was only fighting with 20% of my true power!"
/power up for 3 episodes
Hiru
Oh, Jack. Dude.
Dcbronco
I have better options, all better than going to the highest legal body in the United States. Pinky swear.
Does Thompson really believe his cause stands a chance, when to the next step for him is to actually be allowed to practice law?
I think it is jealousy over Billy Mitchell's perfect hair. Or perchance the smack down he received in DK. Or he really, really burnt his tongue at Rickeys World Famous Restaurant.
See, just like him, I start with the long shots.
As one lawyer to a FORMER lawyer...you are an embarrassment to those of us who work hard and took classes that usually had the word 'ethics' in the title.
Congrats to the Florida Bar for banning this nut-job.
I think we should all pitch in and send him a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird...this is the model upon which all attorneys should seek to emulate. Anyone have his address?
Javert
Thompson: "Make me a lawyer again!"
Supreme Court: "We don't negotiate with terrorists."
@zelfmoordkonijn: His computer wouldn't play Crysis ...
DoctorZoidberg
@GnatB: Shhh! Don't give him ideas!
dd528
@Boogalooshrimp: Have you not seen how this man's brain works?
dd528
@ThePurpleWall:
I guess he means it depends on which children, and where. Damn you Mexico! 12? Really?
mjpm
@Jaysunli: Hes not protecting children. Not at all. Nor is he really trying to. Instead he's creating an atmosphere where parents no longer thing its their job to do the parenting.
Good. I don't want to have to share the profession with him when I get out of law school and pass the bar.
Bricked
Is someone making sure Thompson is taking his medication? I do believe he has missed a few days, because the "CRAZY" is coming back.
jamBot
@ReaveT: I really want my frisbee back...
gomerkyle9
@GnatB: I'm not a lawyer, but with one disbarment under his belt & a lot of "ill will" when he was using his "guest lawyer" pass in other states (on other lawsuits)... It would be an uphill battle do to so.
He'd have move to another state (which would be expensive & difficult, since the majority of the gaming population would be totally NIMBY with him), learn that state's laws, take that state's bar exam (which could be stricter than Florida) & other crap that would be just too expensive for him to do.
Either way, his past disbarment would still haunt him... so let him tighten his own noose a bit more
TStodden
"@Spenze: I can just picture it: "And this excerpt from a weblog site where common gamers can write what they think proves my point your Honor!"
@ex_nihilo: he's like Ganon
@DoctorZoidberg: Noo.. he was eaten by a Grue
YES. Thank goodness.
It's so nice to see actual officials hating on Jack Thompson and his inane arguments as much as we do. And they can actually take some action against him to prevent more of his scurrilous attacks against *modern society.
*His thinking IS very, very ancient.
YES. Thank goodness.
It's so nice to see actual officials hating on Jack Thompson and his inane arguments as much as we do. And they can actually take some action against him to prevent more of his scurrilous attacks against *modern society.
*His thinking IS very, very ancient.
YES. Thank goodness.
It's so nice to see actual officials hating on Jack Thompson and his inane arguments as much as we do. And they can actually take some action against him to prevent more of his scurrilous attacks against *modern society.
*His thinking IS very, very ancient.
saying that certiorari is granted only to cases that "may change the face of law as we know it" is a little inaccurate. It's used for cases that the sitting judges can't find precedent for, or cases that they find interesting (yes, we pay them to tickle their collective fancy).
Besides, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. Since they have discretionary jurisdiction, telling Jack "no" means he won't be having his disbarment overturned by legal means. He had a good run, but it's time to quit.
But in the interest of our own entertainment, let's hope that his "other options" provide us with far more lulz than the simple act of taking his case to the Supreme Court.
mintycrys