Louisiana Court Battle - Read the Important Rulings Here

Louisiana Court Battle - Read the Important Rulings Here

December 1, 2006
As GamePolitics readers know by now, Federal District Court Judge James Brady tossed out Louisiana's video game law in a Baton Rouge courtroom on Wednesday.

The statute - authored by controversial attorney Jack Thompson - was ruled unconstitutional from the bench by Judge Brady. While GP has tracked a number of failed video game laws, Louisiana's is the first we can recall that drew such an abrupt dismissal. Typically there is a delay followed by the issuance of a written permanent injunction.

In Louisiana, however, Judge Brady granted the video game industry's motion for summary judgment on the spot. You can read his brief summary judgment order here

The most significant document in this case, however, is the preliminary injunction order issued by Judge Brady on August 24th. His summary judgment order actually points the reader back to that ruling in order the understand the legal rationale. Excerpts from the preliminary injunction ruling include:
The State’s argument overlooks a line of cases holding that video games are protected free speech…

Defendants (Louisiana) contend that the legislative record contains social science evidence demonstrating that violent video games are harmful. It appears that much of the same evidence has been considered by numerous courts and in each case the connection was found to be tenuous and speculative…

The evidence that was submitted to the legislature in connection with the bill that became the statute is sparse and could hardly be called in any sense reliable…

Comments

I would have prefered a full written ruling on the permanent injuntion rather then this. But still, it's good the law was tossed even though we all saw it coming.
I particularly like the fact that the ruling again mentions that all the previous attempts in other states failed for the same reasons, yet they keep trying.
There is no evidence connecting violent video games with real world violence and Jack Thompson is a moron for thinking that there is. He is an ambulance chaser and a fraud. He needs to have his license to practice law taken away.
With the kind of publicity Jack's been getting, Doug probably knows he doesn't have to do anything. It's like fighting an undead boss that cast healing spells on it's self and the player.

GamePolitics ShoutBox

Posted 07/04/09 at 07:58pm
GoodRobotUs: Which seems to be the only point Jack proved, that some people find some games offensive. i.e. Nothing.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:57pm
GoodRobotUs: The discussion was supposed to be whether games were dangerous not 'Do you find some games offensive'...
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Some agreed, some didn't, but it was their choice to make, not the governments.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: By asking the audience their opinion, he more or less proved that it's a matter of personal choice
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:55pm
GoodRobotUs: Meh, he ended proving Mark's point for him
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:26pm
Erik: Jack if you are reading this you are a LIAR. There is no legal weight to the MPAA's ratings.
Posted 07/04/09 at 07:24pm
JDKJ: I still think my buddy the midget who rides a unicycle backwards while juggling four bowling pins would have been a much bigger hit with that crowd. And he can make up statistics and misinterpret studies, too.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:33pm
Alyric: Of course, Mark falls into the common trap about Columbine, which had nothing to do with bullying, etc. See: http://slate.msn.com/id/2099203/?GT1=3256 for a more thorough explanation.
Posted 07/04/09 at 06:32pm
PHX Corp: Read this http://www.destructoid.com/sgc-09-liveblogging-the-jack-thompson-debate-138502.phtml#ext
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:54pm
PHX Corp: JT is afraid of such ban then advocates it That's what i call a total Hypocrite
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:50pm
PHX Corp: AE: JT is a -Bleeping- Jackass
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:07pm
Andrew Eisen: JT "knew it would be a good audience." Not what he said on Tuesday.
Posted 07/04/09 at 05:01pm
Andrew Eisen: VG cause violent behavior. VG companies influence behavior to get sales. Yeah, that makes sense. (To be fair, the Twitter feed makes deciphering JT's point pretty tough.)
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:52pm
Andrew Eisen: Yes, it's been proposed but as far as I know it has not been passed. Big difference.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:50pm
Cheater87: http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news/formats/xbox360/all-violent-video-games-be-banned-in-germany-$1301757.htm
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:49pm
Andrew Eisen: Far as I know, Germany has not banned all violent video games.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:44pm
Cheater87: Jack wants the US to follow Germany's total video game ban.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:42pm
Andrew Eisen: Note to JT, it is not illegal to sell kids a ticket to R-rated movies.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:39pm
Cheater87: Jack said we would be better with no rating sytem.
Posted 07/04/09 at 04:35pm
Alareth: So what was the introduction used for Jack?
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