This is a user video created by apathylad on Gametrailers - probably the most apt user name ever created in the history of that site, given his tone of voice. I was reaching for the GOD MAKE IT STOP button after about 45 seconds. How long can you last?

Jack Thompson's I'm OK Game [Gametrailers]

We gave you a taste, and now here's the entire episode of Penn & Teller's Bullshit!, which takes on the issue of violent video games and the people that love to hate them. The episode is currently on YouTube in three parts as seen on GamePolitics. Here's a taste of that episode.

The show excels at making what they want to look bad look extremely bad, so we can't really take this as any sort of reasoned argument, but it sure is a hell of a lot of fun. You'll definitely want to wear headphones while watching, because Penn curses enough for him and his little mute friend.

Looks like they're going after the idea that video game violence begets real world violence, specifically Thompson's claim that games represent "the greatest attack on children since polio." Shouldn't take much for this Mythbusters-with-a-middle-finger to knock that one down.

The rest of the minute long trailer says bullshit four times and also features audio of women orgasming, or at least faking it, and saying "female ejaculation." So, consider it NSFW. P&T:BS resumes its next season Thursday on Showtime. Not sure if Jack's in the premiere episode or what. Update: Newly-minted commenter MontagueMusket points out the JT episode will be July 9, according to Wikipedia.

Penn & Teller: Bullshit Starring Jack Thompson [GameStooge, thanks Jonah Falcon]

The modder is Mattigus, a user on the Halflife2.Net forums whose sheer brilliance shines like a gold mine. He's "almost positive" someone else has thought of it, but whatever, he's the only one providing pictures. Below you can see his Limited Edition Jack Thompson Out of Harm's Way PS2 plugged in, and running (although no screen). The cell phone is on the book because the cover won't close under its own weight. And, who wants Jack staring lazerbeams through you for indulging in the violent pornography of Marvel vs. Capcom 2?

Update: Mattigus wrote to say he put two more pictures up on his original forum post. One verifies that he bought the book used off eBay, so, no 13-cent royalty for Mr. Thompson on that sale. "It cost me a total of 7 bucks, including shipping. It was also a library book, which evidently was never checked out." Burn! He's right, here's the card in the back:

Secondly, in case there was any doubt this is a functioning mod, here's the book connected to a monitor, and playing GTA III. Many thanks to reader Rune for spotting this and sending it along.

Jack Thompson PlayStation 2 [HalfLife2.Net Forums]

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]

Keep in mind, what the Supreme Court considered yesterday was not Thompson's case, but simply his request that they hear his case to overturn the "enhanced disbarment" the Florida Bar handed him last year. For you Scotus N00bs, he's asking for a writ of certiorari, which is pronounced SERSH-e-o-RARE-eye. Simply granting one is a big deal, because it means the Court considers it to be an important case, often one that has matters of law that need to be settled for the nation at large.

Thompson's law license doesn't really fall into that category. Then again, the Court did hear Anna Nicole Smith's case. But Court watchers are not expecting the Court to grant cert, and the Florida Bar didn't even bother to waste its time responding to Thompson's appeal to the Supremes. The results of this conference will be announced at a later date, but it's likely the final spadeful of dirt was smoothed over the grave of Thompson's legal career yesterday.

U.S. Supreme Court Considers Jack Thompson's Disbarment Today [GamePolitics]

HB 353 would have added stiffer fines to video game retailers and movie theaters that gave minors access to games or movies rated above their age level. After breezing through the House and Senate by wide margins, it was expected that Governor Huntsman would back it as well. Not so. Industry lobbying seemed to play a big part in the bill's failure, according to Huntsman's letter to the heads of the House and Senate, found on Saintless:

After careful consideration and study, I have decided to veto HB 353, TRUTH IN ADVERTISING ACT AMENDMENTS, and have transmitted it to the Lieutenant Governor for filing.

While protecting children from inappropriate materials is a laudable goal, the language of this bill is so broad that it likely will be struck down by the courts as an unconstitutional violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause and/or the First Amendment.

The industries most affected by this new requirement indicated that rather than risk being held liable under this bill, they would likely choose to no longer issue age appropriate labels on goods and services. Therefore, the unintended consequence of the bill would be that parents and children would have no labels to guide them in determining the age appropriateness of the goods or service, thereby increasing children's potential exposure to something they or their parents would have otherwise determined was inappropriate under the voluntary labeling system now being recognized and embraced by a significant majority of vendors.

I'm guessing that the Governor really sweated over this, perhaps while the song "Pressure" played over and over again in the background.

Speaking to Game Politics, Thompson indicated that the bill's backers are seeking to override the veto. Good luck with that.

BREAKING: Utah Governor Vetoes Video Game/Movie Bill [Game Politics]

The bill, HB 353, imposes even stiffer fines on video game retailers and movie theaters should they provide M- or R-rated products to minors in direct violation of their own store policies.

From what we can tell, language choices clarify that retailers cannot get in trouble if "a buyer subject to age restrictions" (note how they don't use the word minor or person under age 18) lies about their age to the retailer.

Drafted by Thompson, the bill passed by a 25-4 margin. However, it was amended by the Senate to apply to all sales (including internet), and it went back to the House, where the amendment was approved. Next stop, the desk of Utah Governor Jon M. Hunstman, Jr., who can either sign the bill into law or veto it.

Now, Utah Bill Races Against the Clock [GamePolitics]

The bill, HB 353, imposes even stiffer fines on video game retailers and movie theaters should they provide M- or R-rated products to minors in direct violation of their own store policies.

Amendments to the bill appear to have satisfied objections from game retailers. From what I can tell, language choices clarify that retailers cannot get in trouble if "a buyer subject to age restrictions" (note how they don't use the word minor or person under age 18) lies about their age to the retailer.

Still, passing that bill 70-2? It doesn't have much of an effect on the industry, but it does mean we might be seeing more of Thompson as he builds himself a legislative career.

GamePolitics live-blogged the webcast of the House session and was the lucky recipient of Thompson's comment on the vote:

"70-2. This is a huge victory for parents everywhere. The bill, by the amendments we fashioned, is better. Now we go on to the Senate, where I expect passage, with the Governor then likely to sign it into law!"

If HB 353 clears the state Senate, the law will go into effect January 1, 2010. That's plenty of time to relocate to some other state.

BREAKING: Jack Thompson Bill Under Discussion in Utah House [GamePolitics]

The bill, H.B. 353, changes Utah's existing Truth in Advertising law to impose fines of up to $2,000 on retailers and movie theaters that violate their own policies by selling M-rated games or tickets to R-rated movies to minors.

Even though Thompson's name never came up in the 58 minute audio recording of the committee meeting, it's hard not to hear his influence in some of the statements. GamePolitics calls particular attention to Gayle Ruzicka, who lobbied for the bill:

This is the vile stuff. The Grand Theft Auto games are cop-killing murder simulators. And when [Devin Moore] was faced with being arrested he knew exactly what to do. He knew how to aim... at the head and each time killed these [officers]. We don't want this for our children. Not at all. Please, please vote yes today on this bill.

Those that supported the bill also made reference to sex scenes in Grand Theft Auto IV and took the "won't somebody please think of the children" tact. Those against it pointed out that the bill undermines voluntary ratings systems like the ESRB.

The next step for H.B. 353 is a vote from the full Utah House of Representatives. Given that Business and Labor passed it 10-3, I think it's obvious which way the state is leaning. It's times like these that make me glad I live in California.

Jack Thompson Bill Overwhelmingly Approved by Utah House Committee [GamePolitics]

I’ll give you a hint: it’s not game addiction. It’s media coverage.

That’s not to say that 17-year-olds have been committing matricide since time immemorial. Or that the American Psychiatric Association won’t enter video game addiction into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders when review time comes up in 2012. Or that it’s somehow normal to log 100 hours of World of Warcraft in a week.

But I submit that just 10 years ago, Petric’s murder trial would not have gotten this kind of attention from the media. We wouldn’t have headlines like “X-Box Slaying” or “Mortal Kombat Murder.” It would just be “Teen Commits Murder Over Toy” with a quote about how he (or she) seemed like such a nice kid.

So why has the press shifted toward highlighting video games in connection with crime or tragedy? And why are they calling compulsive gaming an “addiction” when the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association haven’t named it so (yet)? Is it because the public really thinks that video games are dangerous?

Or maybe the press is looking for easy headlines. For a little experiment, check out how many hits the razor blade story got this morning. Then check out the murder trial’s hits. And lastly, sit back and see how many hits this page gets.

If we pay this much attention to the topic, it’s no wonder that politicians and lawyers are doing it, too. That scares me because too much attention could legitimize something that might not even be real. Think of the Twinkie Defense in Dan White's murder trial – if politicians, psychologists and TV anchors had bought into it, people might well get away with murder if they can cram down a couple of boxes before getting out their gun.

For more reading on the idea of game addiction (you know, with actual science and stuff), check out:
The Daedalus Project
Stanford School of Medicine’s Recent Study
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry's Reaction to AMA Recommendations on Video Games

Dear Chief Justice Quince:

Please advise today what you and the Court have done with my check for $42,525.27 that was sent you on November 6 to be held in trust by the Supreme Court.

I find today, in talking with my bank, that the check has not been negotiated. I’m not paying any interest on this amount. You all had it from me on the date it was due.

Regards, Jack Thompson

Say what you will about the man, but I'm damn sure I don't have enough money in my bank account to cover that sort of change.

Thanks to Dylan and GamePolitics for the reminder.

"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.

Last Thursday we broke the news that the Supreme Court of Florida entered a motion that approved the call to permanently disbar Thompson, effective in thirty days. In the motion the judge wrote that Thompson could only have a motion for rehearing filed by another attorney in good standing.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

PLAINTIFF’S EMERGENCY MOTION TO STAY FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ORDER OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2008

COMES NOW PLAINTIFF, on his own behalf, and moves this federal court, with Cerification of Emergency attached hereto, pursuant to the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for the following emergency relief on the following grounds, stating:
1. All seventy-seven defendants have been served with the complaint herein; thus, they are all fully on notice as to the nature of this suit, the relief sought, and the basis therefor.
2. On September 25, 2008, the Florida Supreme Court entered an order, a copy of which is attached hereto, permanently disbarring plaintiff Thompson, the respondent therein, effective in thirty days. Thus, the clock is now running on those thirty days.
3. Under this order, Thompson is unable to meet, as he is scheduled to do this Friday, with Richard Gorman, who is an inmate in a state prison for the purpose of being retained by him as his lawyer. Mr. Gorman is sitting in his prison cell solely because of the unethical conduct of Assistant State Attorney Matthew Alex Smith, coupled with the decision of The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors of The Florida Bar to pervert the lawyer disciplinary process by a) acknowledging the prosecutorial misconduct of Mr. Gorman’s prosecutor, and then b) pretending it did not happen. More specifically, the attached “Report of No Probable Cause” is a smoking gun document that proves that the entire Board of Governors of The Florida Bar is involved in a cover-up in order to keep this innocent man in jail, all for the purpose of protecting the corrupt Leon County State Attorney’s Office. This formal Florida Bar document proves that the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar is looking the other way from this prosecutor’s “win at all costs” prosecutorial misconduct.
4. This exhibit hereto is the single most remarkable document Thompson has ever seen in his 31-year legal career. It indicts the entire Bar’s disciplinary process which has been for him a travesty but for Mr. Gorman, because of the obstruction of justice of the Board of Governors, has been a means to keep a man in jail despite prosecutorial misconduct that The Bar itself admits in this document. It is little wonder that these same Governors would then do to Thompson what they have demonstrably done over the past four years. They purport to take away Thompson’s ability to earn a living. By criminal act, this same Bar has conspired to take away this young man’s freedom.
5. Mr. Gorman is not alone as a victim of The Florida Bar Board of Governors’ perversion of the entire lawyer discipline process. Attached hereto is the timely and disturbing editorial this last Saturday in the Palm Beach Post lampooning the “revenge politics” of The Florida Bar’s disciplinary process. The undersigned has been a victim of these same “revenge politics,” and in fact the current Florida Bar President Jay White has been deeply involved in the efforts to pervert that disciplinary process to help his firm’s client, Judge Wennet, just as Mr. White has perverted this same process to harm the undersigned.
6. The presumption must now be that the disciplinary process of The Bar is flawed, that it is being used for purposes that have nothing to do with the ethics of its targets, but have everything to do with punishing The Bar’s perceived enemies and protecting its friends. This is precisely what has happened to the undersigned, as The Bar used its “discipline” to protect two corrupted judges, two porn-to-kids entertainment enterprises, and a Bar Referee who was on the bench by virtue of a forged document.
7. Plaintiff herein thus seeks an immediate stay, on an emergency basis, of the Florida Supreme Court’s September 25 disbarment order because a) he can show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, b) irreparable harm unless the injunction/stay issues, including public damage to his career and to the rights of others, such as those of Mr. Gorman, c) this harm to Thompson far outweighs any conceivable harm to defendants if the injunction issues, and d) the injunction/stay will not disserve but actually serve the public interest. Thompson, this Friday, must be allowed to meet with and be retained by this other victim of The Florida Bar’s “disciplinary system” so that this innocent, imprisoned man can petition, through Thompson, his trial court to set aside his sentence secured by fraud.
8. Further, there are demonstrable, patent errors on the face of the disbarment order itself which provide the basis for the disbarment.
9. Justice Canady, who has hardly had time to have his new judicial robe fitted, could not have reviewed the entire disciplinary record as to Thompson, yet he has nevertheless put his name to this permanent disbarment order on the very day that he was served by Thompson with the federal civil rights action against him. Justice Canady has thus put his name on a permanent disbarment lawyer in a case about which he knows absolutely nothing. This is not a state Supreme Court interested in doing justice. It is a Supreme Court which is the dog being wagged by The Bar tail that is interested in and pursues, according to the Post, “revenge politics.” The Bar put this disbarment order under the noses of the Justices, and they signed it, completely unaware of its baselessness. Thompson can prove just that.
WHEREFORE, plaintiff respectfully seeks an order, on an emergency basis, staying the Florida Supreme Court’s disbarment order until such time as an evidentiary hearing, either before Judge Cooke or Magistrate Bandstra, can be secured as to the granting of the preliminary injunction sought in the complaint.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this is an emergency and that this pleading has been provided to all defendants and/or their counsel by various means, including fax and e-mail, this September 29, 2008.

JOHN B. THOMPSON, Plaintiff
Attorney, Florida Bar #231665

What do you think? Did the media make Jack?

... By refusing to respond, Doug dropped the ball. Thompson, finding no resistance from the top of the video game industry, was empowered to push harder. In retrospect, it's important to understand that bullying is the essence of Thompson's strategy. In fact, one of the tips he offers in his forgettable 2005 book, Out of Harm's Way, is "be mean." And, since caveman days, bullies have pushed and pushed until someone got up the nerve to push back.

Doug never pushed back.

Instead, Lowenstein's ESA operated in a sort of la-la land in which Jack Thompson did not exist. As a journalist, I soon learned not to waste my time asking the ESA to comment on anything Thompson said or did because, ostrich-like, they pretended that there was no Jack Thompson.

The gaming press, on the other hand, deserves kudos for helping reveal to the larger world the kind of vicious tactics Thompson employed in his culture crusade. And isn't that the function of a free press? You'd think that Doug Lowenstein, a former journalist, would understand that.

Maybe Lowenstein had his spam filter set to catch JT. One of the first things I discovered after starting at Kotaku is that we were treated to weekly — sometimes daily — updates on Jack Thompson from Jack Thompson. Sometimes long 'press releases,' sometimes — like this morning — random crap, like a picture of an iceberg. Of course JT is a loudmouthed, self-aggrandizing irritant, but he's very good at self-promotion — and the implication that we as a group were supposed to ignore it when someone who utilized underhanded, bullying tactics and sensationalist talk in an extremely high profile manner is ridiculous. Too much coverage at times? Probably. Justified coverage at times? Most definitely. 'Mainstream media' certainly wasn't going to delve into JT's abhorrent tactics like we as a group did.

Former ESA Boss Couldn't Be More Wrong about Jack Thompson Coverage [GamePolitics]

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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I read with more than passing interest the reports of Jack Thompson's disbarment. Amid all the celebrating among the game industry, one thing I hope emerges is some degree of self examination by the game press of its own complicity in making Thompson what he became.

The game press had a schizoid relationship with Thompson. He was the person they loved to vilify and the person they could not get enough of. Time and again, the game press — and mainstream press — would ask ESA to engage with, or respond to Thompson's latest excess. The media knew well that he was a charlatan who wholly lacked credibility. But hey, they said, he was news and could not be ignored. That was a cop out. It gave Thompson a platform he might not have had for as long as he did.

Mainstream outlets (The Today Show, CNN, Fox) were worse but the game press knew better. But he was the game press' crack. And even as they said privately he was a kook, they treated him as if he was a credible, fair minded critic. That represented an abdication of the critical filtering role the media should play.

There were and are legitimate grounds to criticize the game industry, and there were responsible and fair minded critics like Dave Walsh. But for the game press it was all Jack all the time. So as it takes delight in his apparent demise, it is a good time to contemplate whether the game media itself has matured . You help set the tone for mainstream media coverage and if you validate extremists you give license to the less informed to follow your lead.

It is 35 years since Pong. Your readers and the industry deserve a game media worthy of the best that journalism has to offer.

Doug Lowenstein

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 ass, 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:

Jack Thompson is so disbarred he can't even practice the law of gravity.

and about a bazillion other Twitters by other people making me laugh until my sides hurt. A few of my favorites:

Jack Thompson is so disbarred, sharks can eat him without violating the tenets of professional courtesy.

Jack Thompson is so disbarred he isn't even allowed to read Shakespeare.

Jack Thompson is so disbarred he can't even play basketball because it's on a court!

The full list of Twittered So Disbarred jokes can be found on the link.

So Disbarred [Twitter]

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!

In response to our request for comment Thompson sent Kotaku a copy of an emergency motion he filed with the federal court.

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.

Immediate News Release – Sept. 25, 2008

Miami Attorney Jack Thompson Disbarred by Florida Supreme Court

Miami attorney Jack Thompson, nationally and internationally known by virtue of his effective and successful opposition over the last 20 years to the broadcast, marketing, and sale of adult-rated entertainment to children, has just been informed by the Florida Supreme Court that he has been disbarred from the practice of law today.

This disbarment is in retaliation, among other things, for Thompson’s Tyndale House book Out of Harm’s Way, published in 2005, which 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. The Florida Bar’s insurance carrier was forced to pay Thompson money damages for that earlier assault upon his First Amendment rights, which is the only known payment of damages by any state bar to any lawyer for improper disciplinary efforts. It appears that the State of Florida will be paying Thompson more damages this time around for its illegal, now repeated, use of “discipline” to punish a Christian lawyer for his activism in the public square.

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.

Thompson looks forward to successfully litigating his federal claims, now before US District Court Judge Marcia Cooke in the Southern District of Florida.

Thompson always wanted to own a Bar. Now, armed with multiple US Supreme Court rulings that no state bar can do what it has done to Thompson, he is set to own that Bar.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IN AND FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO. 08-22603-CIV-JUDGE COOKE/MAGISTRATE BANDSTRA

JOHN B. THOMPSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

THE FLORIDA BAR; THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA; RAOUL G. CANTERO, INDIVIDUALLY; THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALLY AND IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES: CHIEF JUSTICE PEGGY A. QUINCE, JUSTICE CHARLES T. WELLS, JUSTICE HARRY LEE ANSTEAD, JUSTICE BARBARA J. PARIENTE, JUSTICE R. FRED LEWIS, JUSTICE KENNETH B. BELL, JUSTICE CHARLES T. CANADY; THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALLY: REFEREE DAVA J. TUNIS, BENEDICT KUEHNE, THE ESTATE OF STEVE CHAYKIN, BARNABY MIN, SHEILA TUMA, KEN BRYK, JAN WICHROWSKI, BARRY RICHARD; THE FOLLOWING FLORIDA BAR EMPLOYEES INDIVIDUALLY AND IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES: JACK HARKNESS, JOHN BERRY, KEN MARVIN, PAUL HILL, MARY ELLEN BATEMAN; THE FOLLOWING FORMER FLORIDA BAR
OFFICERS INDIVIDUALLY: KELLY OVERSTREET JOHNSON, ALAN BOOKMAN, HENRY COXE, FRANK ANGONES; THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL AS IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES WITH AND FOR THE FLORIDA BAR: PRESIDENT JOHN G. WHITE, PRESIDENT-ELECT JESSE DINER, BAR GOVERNORS RAMON ABADIN, ALVIN ALSOBROOK, ALLISON BETHEL, ROBERT BRUSH, ARNELL BRYANT-WILLIS, BRIAN BURGOON, DOMINIC CAPARELLO, JAY COHEN, JEWEL COLE, GREGORY COLEMAN, IAN COMISKY, DANIEL DECUBELLIS, MAYANNE DOWNS, CHARLES EBBETS, STEPHEN ECHSNER, EVIN GONZALEZ, NANCY GREGOIRE, ROGER HAUGHEY, SCOTT HAWKINS, JACK HICKEY, DENNIS KAINEN, WILLIAM KALISH, LAIRD LILE, DENISE LYN, CLIFTON MCCLELLAND, SCOTT MCMILLEN, ERIC MEEKS, EUGENE PETTIS, DAVID PRATHER, ANDREW RINGERS, DAVID ROTHMAN, JULIET ROULHAC, CLIFFORD SANBORN, ANDREW SASSO, EDWIN SCALES, JOHN SCHICKEL, WILLIAM SCHIFINO, CLAY SCHNITKER, CARL SCHWAIT, LAWRENCE SELLERS, MURRAY SILVERSTEIN, LISA SMALL, JOHN STEWART, RICHARD TANNER, NORMAN VAUGHAN-BIRCH, FRANK WALKER, SAMUEL WELLS, and GWYNNE YOUNG.

Defendants.

PLAINTIFF’S EMERGENCY MOTION TO STAY FLORIDA SUPREME COURT’S PERMANENT DISBARMENT ORDER OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2008

COMES NOW PLAINTIFF, on his own behalf, and moves this federal court, pursuant to the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for the following emergency relief on the following grounds, stating:
1. All seventy-seven defendants have been served with the complaint herein; thus, they are all fully on notice as to the nature of this suit, the relief sought, and the basis therefor.

2. Today, at approximately 11 am, on September 25, 2008, the Florida Supreme Court, has entered an order, a copy of which is attached hereto, permanently disbarring plaintiff Thompson, the respondent therein, effective in thirty days. Thus, the clock is now running on those thirty days. This is an emergency.

3. Under this order, Thompson is unable, for example, to meet, as he is scheduled to do next Friday, with Richard Gorman, who is an inmate in a state prison for the purpose of being retained by him as his lawyer. Mr. Gorman is sitting in his prison cell solely because of the unethical conduct of Assistant State Attorney Matthew Alex Smith and the obstruction of justice by the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar. The attached Report of No Probable Cause is a smoking gun document that proves that the entire Board of Governors of The Florida Bar is involved in a cover-up in order to keep this innocent man in jail, all for the purpose of protecting the corrupt Leon County State Attorney’s Office. It is the single most remarkable document Thompson has ever seen in his 31-year legal career. It indicts the entire Bar’s disciplinary process which in that instance is being perverted to keep an innocent man in jail. It is little wonder that these same Governors would then do to Thompson what they have demonstrably done over the past four years.

4. Thompson was to meet with Mr. Gorman for the purpose of securing his release from jail, and now Thompson cannot be retained by Mr. Gorman for that or for any other purpose. Thus, one of the consequences of this disbarment order is not only Thompson’s inconvenience, to say the least, but more importantly the thwarting of the retention of Thompson by an innocent man in jail who is the victim of the obstruction of justice of The Florida Bar and its Governors.

5. Plaintiff herein thus seeks an immediate stay, on an emergency basis, of the Florida Supreme Court’s disbarment order because he can show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable harm unless the injunction issues, including public damage to his career and to the rights of others, such as those of Mr. Gorman, that this harm far outweighs any conceivable harm to defendants if the injunction issues, and that the injunction will not disserve but actually serve the public interest.

6. Further, there are demonstrable factual errors in the disbarment order itself, which provide the basis for the disbarment, which can be easily and quickly proven. Additionally, it is fascinating that Justice Cannady, who has undoubtedly reviewed absolutely nothing about this disciplinary case, has put his name to this disbarment order on the day that he was served with the federal civil rights action. What a coincidence.

WHEREFORE, plaintiff respectfully seeks an order, on an emergency basis, staying the Florida Supreme Court’s disbarment order until such time as an evidentiary hearing, either before Judge Cooke or Magistrate Bandstra, can be secured as to the granting of apreliminary injunction sought in the complaint.

I HEREBY CERTIFY that this pleading has been provided to all defendants and/or their counsel by various means, including fax and e-mail, this September 25, 2008.

JOHN B. THOMPSON, Plaintiff
Attorney, Florida Bar #231665