Jack Thompson Disbarred, Effective in 30 Days

By Jane McEntegart, published on September 26, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: , , | Themes: Digital Entertainment, Business
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A Florida Court yesterday gave the order for anti-video game activist Jack Thompson to be permanently disbarred, a sanction recommended by Judge Dava Tunis in July. Thompson has 30 days to get his affairs in order and make arrangements for clients.

“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.”

Proceedings for the disbarment began early in 2007. The Florida Bar accused Thompson of professional misconduct. According to Law.com, Judge Dava Tunis concluded Thompson made false statements to tribunals, disparaged and humiliated litigants and other lawyers, and improperly practiced law outside the state of Florida.

Tunis said she reviewed 2,400 pages of transcripts and 1,700 pages of exhibits before finding Jack Thompson guilty of 24 out of 31 alleged rule violations. She recommended Thompson be permanently disbarred and fined $43,675.35.

As sudden (and for most gamers, entertaining) as this news is, Thompson is not one to rest on his laurels and has already responded to the ruling. Gaming wesbite Kotaku, reports that Thompson has filed an emergency motion with the court despite the fact he needs another attorney to file a motion for rehearing on his behalf.

Thompson sent out a press release claiming the disbarment was in retaliation, among other things, for Thompson’s Tyndale House book Out of Harm’s Way which he says “blew the whistle on the Florida Supreme Court’s earlier efforts in the 1990’s to literally pathologize his faith-based and successful activism against the American entertainment industry.” He goes on to further explain what he believes to be an unfair disbarment:

“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,” the statement read. “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.”

So while Thompson has been disbarred this, unfortunately, is not the last we’ll see of him. "...this should be fun, starting now," Thompson wrote to Kotaku in an email. We don’t doubt that.

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Comments

Pei-chen 09/26/2008 6:31 PM
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I think he wasted millions of tax money for his "crusade"

nachowarrior 09/27/2008 2:28 AM
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coldmast 09/27/2008 5:13 PM
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it is a proud day for the video gaming world,
violent video games do not program people into serial killers,
and this lunacy from a supposed sane person has finally been put to a stop.

and parents follow the ESRB ratings so we don't have to listen to your kids swear.

derrickboyd 09/27/2008 7:30 PM
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Interesting comments coldmast. So you're saying video games can program kids to swear but can not program them in other ways ;)

Face it people. Exposure to something does not "program" you, but it does shift your perception of the world around you. Swearing and serial killing are both considered bad. So why does a game cause one and not the other? Two reasons that I can think of.
1) Serial killing has severe legal impact, swearing does not.
2) Our moral upbringing stresses one is VERY wrong and the other is just impolite. This moral upbringing therefor overrides the video game for serial killing but not for swearing (at least in most people who have had a good upbringing).

The lesson? Spend time with your kids!

PS: UT3 Rules!!!

Anonymous 09/28/2008 4:42 AM
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@Derrick: I don't think Coldmast thinks games teach swearing, I think he wants fewer 13 year olds swearing on XBox live while he is trying to play.

Anonymous 09/28/2008 11:16 PM
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Thank goodness this idiot is finally out of the courts (well, until he files 354387357 appeal cases). The truth about violent video games is that if parents are adequately monitoring the media that is presenting itself to their children, and spending enough time with them to instill core values, then the games aren't going to make the child a serial killer, or whatever other whack job philosophies he was trying to argue. I agree with ESRB ratings - get a clue parents - if it says not recommended for children under X, then your child under X age probably shouldn't be exposed to it. Don't blame video game companies for your own negligence as a parent.

coldmast 09/29/2008 5:40 AM
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my comment about swearing was rhetorical, and kids who are taught not to swear, do not swear, no matter who swears around them.
(which I do agree is impolite in some crowds, and yet completely acceptable in others)

@phisrow, I can't afford XBOX live.

I believe that what a child needs most is love, food, and health.

gm0n3y 09/29/2008 7:30 PM
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@coldmast

also dual 4870s and a 25Mb downpipe.

Parrdacc 09/30/2008 5:15 PM
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This is the best news I have heard all week. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Thompson and his recklessness.

Anonymous 02/27/2009 7:55 PM
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Holy buckets!

This has brightened an otherwise very cruddy day.

*contented sigh*

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