September 6, 2007 -
Embattled attorney Jack Thompson filed documents with a federal court in Florida yesterday, requesting to subpoena President George W. Bush for a deposition in what appears to be an increasingly desperate fight to retain Thompson's license to practice law.The controversial attorney, facing a pair of ethics complaints (see below) filed by the Florida Bar, will stand trial before a referee appointed by the Florida Supreme Court beginning on November 26th.
Thompson is currently suing that referee, Judge Dava Tunis, along with the entire Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Bar in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
So where does The Decider (seen at left in full Madden regalia) fit into the case?
That's not really clear. But the linkage - at least in Thompson's mind - seems to be that the Blank Rome law firm represents video game industry defendants in Strickland vs. Sony, an Alabama lawsuit alleging that an 18-year-old was acting under the influence of Grand Theft Auto when he killed two police officers and a police dispatcher in 2004. And Blank Rome - or at least some of its partners - are also lobbyists as well as heavyweight Republican donors.
Thompson, by the way, was thrown off the Strickland case by an Alabama Circuit Court judge in November, 2005. In a document filed yesterday with the U.S. District Court, Thompson writes:
I have already sent the George and Jeb Bush subpoenas to Referee Tunis for her signature. She may run on this, but she can’t hide. She must sign the subpoenas, as her filing [of the Thompson Bar complaints] with the federal court has made the testimony I seek in the depositions of both men highly relevant to my Bar defense.
If the President’s position is that I do not get to depose him while he is in office, then I would note that Paula Jones’ lawyers were able to convince a federal judge otherwise. If President Bush is successful is convincing the court that I must wait until he leaves office, that’s something I am prepared to do.
GP: In fact, waiting until President Bush left office in January, 2009 would suit Thompson quite well, effectively delaying any action on the Bar complaints until then. This looks like a stall tactic from here.
On the other hand, it's extremely unlikely that Bush would be compelled to appear. Thompson is also seeking a subpoena for President Bush's brother Jeb, the former governor of Florida.
The Bar complaints filed with the U.S. District Court by Judge Tunis relate to Thompson's Alabama video game case (37-page PDF) and Thompson's conduct in last October's failed attempt (15-page PDF) to have Bully declared a public nuisance.
Comments
If he were, he might actually get somewhere. But then it's also possible he'd never have started this bollocking.
But then he also might never have become a lawyer in the first place.
Maybe he isn't doing much for gamers (the buyers) other than providing hella good entertainment, but, when it's all said and done, I think the game industry (the sellers) get more out of Jack Thompson than he's taken from them. They can't begin to pay for the publicity he brings them. Even Wendy's got a free bump. I went and got me a Frosty -- just because.
Sometimes, for the sake of appreances and to avoid the criticism that you rushed to judgment, you gotta give folk enough rope to hang themselves.
Bah, I've seen that episode already... though november sweeps is coming up, I heard rumors he gets disbarred in the series finale, won't that be a hooah! er I mean a hoot?
And I'm not trying to be funny (not this time). I'd really appreciate any serious answers.
Well, President bush did say "Parents just need to be better parents." Funny how he seemed to coins the wisest phrase of this whole debate.
How about Whitney Houston as one of your trial witnesses? You can put her on the stand and have her sing, "I believe that children are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way . . . etc.," as proof of your theory that Jack Thompson is motivated in part by his concern for children and not by spite, vindictiveness, petty jealousy, misplaced anger, idleness, pride, fame-seeking, greed, or small-mindedness, feeble-mindness, mental disorder, etc., etc. I've discussed her availability with Bobby Brown and I understand that she's wide-open.
Plus, it'll be such a touching, tear-jerking, courtroom moment. And all good trials gotta have at least one of those.
Jacks logic.
Gamepolitics posters = no life
Jack Thompson = Gamepolitics poster
Ergo
Jack Thompson = no life
Also, that ruling didn't exactly strike down the Michigan Bar's rules.
A comment from the Overlawyered blog from the disciplinary counsel of Fieger's appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court:
Two important points about the decision. First, the judge explicitly conceded (as he had to) that the legitimacy of Fieger's reprimand was not being challenged. The decision is prospective only. Second, there is a distinction between a declaratory judgment and an injunction. Although the court's decision purports to declare that the courtesy rules "shall not be enforced," a declaratory judgment does not necessarily prevent future prosecutions. In Steffel v Thompson, 415 US 452 (1974), a declaratory judgment was described as "persuasive, but not ultimately coercive; noncompliance with it may be inappropriate, but is not contempt" (at 471). By way of disclosure, I am the disciplinary counsel who argued the Fieger appeal in the Michigan Supreme Court.
Posted by: Robert E. Edick | September 7, 2007 09:22 AM
Meaning a) any reprimand against you by the Florida Bar would be legitimate and b) a court decision in your favor doesn't protect you from future complaints, if you haven't already been disbarred by that time.
Practice what you preach, jabroni: Grow up and get a life.
Dennis, it's time to ban him again. He's getting closer and closer to what got him banned in the first place, IMHO.
My name is Richard Dunn. I am 26 years old. In addition to my job, working for the local College, I am working to finish a degree in Computer Science. I am married to a lovely woman, and we are both very active in our religious beliefs. I do not drink, I do not smoke, or take drugs.
I have, in the course of my life, played just about every violent video game out there. I've done the GTAs, the Mortal Kombats, the First Person Shooters, all of it.
How many times have I ever been in a fight? Never.
how many times have I been arrested? Never.
How many times have I used a gun? Once, on a shooting range, with the Boy Scouts of America.
Jack, I am living proof that Gamers are not all violent druggies, We have our misfits, but as a whole, we're normal people, not that different from you. We just have a hobby that you don't share. To say that Gamers are going to cause violence is just as likely as saying that Big Game Hunters or people who enjoy Karaoke or Crocheting will cause violence. Go do a survey and see how many murderers enjoyed playing the Guitar. I'm honestly curious now.
Honestly, Jack, whatever comes from the next few months, whether you carry on or whether you are disbarred, it doesn't matter to me. Like the above poster, I kind of hope you succeed just because it makes the new so much more entertaining to see what your latest antic is. But no matter what, I'm going to carry on knowing that I have proved you wrong. We enforce the ESRB in my house, and it works, but beyond that, I play the games before any of the children that come to my home play them, so I know what they are and are not allowed to load. I have taken responsibility for the electronic entertainment in my home.
I am a Gamer. I am a responsible, informed man who enjoys digital media. And though you try to categorize us, I will always be here, proving you wrong.
I can imagine it:
"Mommy, mommy, the bad game posessed me!"
I am fairly certain he believes he is important enough.
Stark.Staring.Bonkers.
Crazy. Crazy. Crazy.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
answer me that jackie and at the same time neither claim involvement in the alabama case or say 'hooah' and we might have a half civilised post for once.
Thing is, im not sure anyone has to subpeona anyone here. Didnt Jack try to subpeona the Penny Arcade guys once and the judge in that case wouldnd let him because he couldnt prove any real connection or reason for it?
Course, Jacko dosnt really seem to think about these things. Stall tactic sure, but if National news should happen to grab onto it and make it widely known... well there goes his reputation. Jack probably thinks they would spin it his way but betweent he choices of possible spins on THAT story go.. well.. I see the media going with the "Crazy attorney takes meritless swipes at President in desperate stall tactic" more than anything.
The Media has already turned on Jack, they turned on him after V-tech when he kept spouting his nonsense in the middle of the tragedy and couldnt support any of his claims. Hes been getting dumped from debates and shows alike. The man dosnt seem to realize this however and soo... yeah. Id say reality will be a cold shock to Jack, but when has he ever bothered seeing reality?
President Bush and his brother are, at best, third or fourth parties who's campaigns may have received donations from the Blank Rome law firm. There's nothing illegal there and it, to me any way, it would seem like any judge in the country would realize what he's trying to do and deny the subpenea on the grounds that its baseless grandstanding.
How can he continue to present anything regarding the Alabama case as part of his defense when (a) He was removed from the case, and (b) it was his terrible behaviour in and outside the court that led to one of the ethics charges he is facing.
Jack Thompson would do himself a lot more favours by simply admitting that he has done wrong and behaved in a manner unfit for an attorney. I would have more respect for someone who is honest and faces the music when they have done something wrong instead of trying to pass the buck and blame everyone else but himself for his own behaviour.
If it is a delaying tactic as GP suggests, it just shows how desperate he has gotten, indicating that he knows full well just how serious the consequences of his inappropriate behaviour are, and how likely it is he will have to answer for his behaviour.
I'm sure he'd love to subpoena John Lennon. That really would be a delaying tactic.
Seriously, serving the President of the United States and his brother, the former Governor of Florida subpeonas when they have zero involvement is just a foolish desperate act.
What's next, he's gonna subpeona Hillary Clinton or even Bill Clinton?
I agree, when does enough stall and BS diversion tactics end? What next?
He is wasting courts time and taxpayers money by letting this drag on.
Good lord, this man is comedy GOLD. Congress can't even get him to let his flunkies testify. He's got BIGGER PROBLEMS. I don't know what would be funnier, that he served the president or if the president actually testified.
Nice move, Jack. Sheer legal brilliance.
Keep that health plan coverage up to date. In-patient psychiatric hospitalization costs an arm and a leg nowadays.
Must really be slim pickings if this is the best warrior you could come up with to pretend to be a "Warrior For God".
Seriously, dude, ya need more intelligent, charismatic, SANE people to do your work if you truly expect to win ANYTHING.
Sincerely,
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
It's obivous he's scared now trying to despreately hold onto his licsence to practice law.
------------
In his next dashng move of legal brilliance, hot shot attorney Jack Thompson subpeonas HIMSELF! but not just himself, his mustachioed past-self from his television appearance.
Jack thompson had this to say; 'The testimony of the former Jack thompson is not only relevant, but entirely neccesary, he has key evidence that I am not privy to. If this means we have to wait till viable timespace manipulation technology is developed, then so be it."
if(subpoena==GWBush)
{
JT_TVappearance++;
}
else fail;
i watch Law & Order, i'm pretty sure handing someone a book of all your ideas and asking for him to help you is leading the witness.
To be honest, I'm wondering how long he can push this before he crosses over into Emergency Suspension territory.
youre neglecting the fact that JTs book is probably godaweful, so its not really making the witness anymore compliant.
Jacks just trying to get rid of the copies since no one is actually paying for them.
Further, what Mr. McCauley has also chosen not to report is that the lawyers for the Howard Stern Show broadcaster alleged, as does The Bar, that my letter to Governor Jeb Bush was "unethical" in that it pointed out the efforts of the law firm one of Jeb Bush's buddies, Al Cardenas of Tew Cardenas, to keep Stern on the air despite the illegal broadcasts.
The clear relevance of these depos is proven by the fact that I am in fact deposing Al Cardenas on September 17.
So nice try, Dennis, in attempting to characterize this discovery from the Bushes are some sort of desperate effort. There's nothing desperate about it. Blank Rome chose to put President Bush in the middle of this desperate SLAPP Bar strategy, and I have a right to ask Bush about it.
Hooah! Jack Thompson
Seems to me like if that's the only connection then he might as well subpoena every single member of the Republican party.
Wonder how long before he actually tries that...