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Why Robin Makes Batman Better The Business and Labour Committee of the Utah House of Representatives passed a law authored by ex-Miami-attorney, Jack Thompson. I guess you can still have a career after being disbarred.
When we last left our intrepid Florida anti-gaming attorney, he was not only being permanently disbarred, but was also ordered to reimburse legal fees to the bar to the tune of some $US43,675.35. Well never let it be said that Jack Thompson was a man who didn’t pay his dues. Here’s an email regarding the payment, since lowered to $US42,525.27 by the Bar, sent to us for some odd reason from Thompson himself:
Miami attorney… sorry, former Miami attorney John B. “Jack” Thompson, was officially disbarred over the weekend. Florida judge Dava Tunis recommended permanent disbarment for the attention seeking lawyer on September 25th, a change reflected on the Florida Bar’s official web site, which notes that he is “not eligible to practice in Florida.” The decision ends Thompson’s illustrious 31-year career as a Florida attorney. We haven’t checked the trash folder in our Kotaku e-mail account to see what the future holds for Jack, but we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.
Controversial anti-gaming attorney Jack Thompson will not seek to have a motion for a rehearing filed on his behalf with the Supreme Court of Florida. Rather Thompson says that he will seek to have the federal courts intervene on the ruling that would disbar him for life.
“I will focus on the federal suit and will prevail,” Thompson said. “Piece of cake.”
In his federal emergency motion to stay the Florida Supreme Court Order, dated Monday, Thompson argues that the disbarment should be postponed until the federal courts can hear his arguments and that disbarring him would prevent him from representing new clients and could damage his career. He also writes that his disbarment is without merit and that he can prove it.
Yesterday, we posted a letter from former ESA boss Doug Lowenstein chastising the gaming press for giving everyone’s favourite soon-to-be-former-lawyer Jack Thompson, claiming that we “treated him as if he was a credible, fair minded critic” (we did?) and overcovered him (and Crecente admitted that on that point, it’s probably true – at times). Well, they’ve shot back at GamePolitics, succinctly calling Lowenstein’s assertions ‘bull.’ You can’t combat a bully by sticking your head in the sand, notes GP:
I can’t imagine there is much love lost between the former president of the Entertainment Software Association and soon to be former attorney Jack Thompson. While Thompson often publicly vilified Doug Lowenstein, once even calling him the Goebbels of the industry, Lowenstein always declined to respond.
When news of Thompson’s upcoming disbarment hit Kotaku, Lowenstein (who now works outside the industry) took the time to write me an email asking that I and other game journalists take this moment not to celebrate but to reflect on how culpable we were in helping create Thompson.
That letter for your consideration after the jump. Personally, I think that many (including Kotaku) over covered Thompson at times. But I also think it would be a disservice to completely ignore Thompson’s legal proceedings which, at times, did find a home in the mainstream media. We even tried, at times, to apply an investigative slant to his coverage.
Ignoring a problem, I think, does not usually make it go away.
I’m not the type to get joy out of someone else’s misfortune. Over the years Jack Thompson and I have built up a rapport of sorts, but that’s bound to happen when you email with a person for upwards of four years. While Thompson tends to go off the deep end, and off on me, whenever I’ve tried to get into a deep conversation with him or do a standard interview, I still find his persistence and point of view fascinating.
That all being said, there is a game of sorts being played on Twitter right now that is 110 percent awesome. It appears that Lore Sjoberg, once of Kotaku and always of kicking the internet’s arse, started it up by Twittering:
Jack Thompson is so disbarred, he’s not even allowed to approach the bench at a picnic table.
and
Jack Thompson is so disbarred, he can’t even file briefs in his underwear drawer.
Which was followed by:
While news of attorney Jack Thompson’s disbarment today by the Supreme Court of Florida might have been unhappy news to some…one…, it certainly seems to have become a reason to celebrate for others.
For instance one game developer took it upon themselves to throw a little party to celebrate the day’s news complete with cake, cookies and drinks. Yes cake. Right here on Kotaku. Surprised?
Know of any more of these going on? Send pics!
Today’s stunning news that controversial attorney and anti-gaming zealot Jack Thompson will be disbarred for life from practicing law by the Supreme Court of Florida seems to have done little to faze the attorney himself.
In response to our request for comment Thompson sent Kotaku a copy of an emergency motion he filed with the court, this despite the ruling which states that only another attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar could file a motion for rehearing on Thompson’s behalf.
In the motion Thompson outlines what he hints at as a perversion of justice, one that won’t allow him, for instance, to meet with a potential client who he says is an inmate in a state prison.
Thompson also sent over a press release saying that the disbarment is in retaliation for, among other things, Thompson’s Tyndale House book Out of Harm’s Way which he says blew the whistle on what he describes as the Florida Supreme Court’s attack on his activism against the American entertainment industry.
The timing of this disbarment transparently reveals its motivation: This past Friday Thompson filed a federal civil rights action against The Bar, the Supreme Court, and all seven of its Justices. This rush to disbarment is in retribution for the filing of that federal suit. With enemies this foolish, Thompson needs only the loyal friends he has.
The emails from Thompson wrap up with: “…this should be fun, starting now” Full press release and motion are on the jump for your perusal.
Is it finally game over for Florida lawyer and violent video game opponent Jack Thompson? Judgment has been entered in the case that started last year and came to a head when Judge Dava Tunis recommended permanent disbarment for the bombastic, showboating law man. The court has approved the report and has ordered that JT is officially disbarred as of 30 days from today. The Court approves the corrected referee’s report and John Bruce Thompson is permanently disbarred, effective thirty days from the date of this order so that respondent can close out his practice and protect the interests of existing clients. If respondent notifies the Court in writing that he is no longer practicing and does not need the thirty days to protect existing clients, this Court will enter an order making the permanent disbarment effective immediately. Respondent shall accept no new business from the date this order is filed.
