Commentary on Jack Thompson's Conduct at His Bar Trial.

*Gamepolitics.com recently ran a series of excerpts from Jack Thompson's ethics trial in which he is facing permenant disbarrment. The series can be found here. It should also be noted that my commentaries are my opinions ONLY. THEY ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF FACT.*

It seems that Florida attorney and anti-video game activist Jack Thompson is hellbent on career suicide. If you do not believe me, then take a look at excerpts from the testimony at his bar trial, the very trial before the Florida Bar Association in which he is facing the loss of his bar license. Can it not be anymore obvious to Mr. Thompson that his career and reputation, or what remains of both, is on the line? Can it not be anymore obvious to Mr. Thompson that bringing video games into the trial will not win him sympathy of Judge Dava Tunis, who is presiding over the trial, and prosecutor Sheila Tuma? Can it not be anymore obvious to Mr. Thompson that his behavior will increase the likelihood that he may never practice law again?

Apparently not to Jack Thompson. After all, he is an attorney who does not know when to obey the judge and to shut up when he is told. This act has happened again and again like a broken record or a scratched CD. Every time he has yelled objection and was overruled, he talks back to the judge like a disobedient child. Mr. Thompson's conduct in and at times out of the courtroom has always been known to be unprofessional to say the least, but his conduct at the trial that determines his career's future is beyond unprofessional; it is reprehensible and suicidal to his career.

Who was Jack Thompson's layer in this trial? Who gave Jack Thompson advice to act like a tantrum-throwing child? Where did Mr. Thompson get the idea that he can conduct himself in such an immature manner in front of Judge Tunis and the Florida Bar Association and still think he can keep his license to practice law, much less not being held in contempt of court? Does he not get the idea that his misbehavior, arrogance, and stupidity will cost him his career?

Regardless of what one thinks about video game violence, or video games in general, it is obvious that Jack Thompson does not know how to conduct himself in the courtroom. It is obvious that Jack Thompson does not understand the implications that this trial has on the future of his career. Does Mr. Thompson never learn from the actions of the attorneys before him that lost their license to practice law? Does Mr. Thompson really want to flush his career, or the remains of his career, down the toilet? Does Mr. Thompson not have a sense of urgency that he could be in textbooks as an example of what not to do or as an example of what and who not to be like? Does he not get it? If he does not understand, then Jack Thompson needs to be disbarred. There is no place in this country for any lawyer to act like this. There is no place in this country for any attorney who does not conduct himself or herself in a professional manner and in an adult manner. A message needs to be sent to Jack Thompson. He needs to understand that he is not going to act like a petulant brat in the courtroom. He needs to understand that he is in no position to threaten a lawsuit against anyone who criticizes him. He needs to understand that he has no right to threaten anyone associated with the video game industry with jail time and to defame their families. Jack Thompson needs to be disbarred...permanently. There is no place in this country for an attorney such as him to be practicing law.

John Bruce Thompson has made a spectacle out of himself for the last time. He has made himself an embarrassment out of the lawyer profession for the last time. We have all seen this act again and again. Mr. Thompson's actions and conduct can no longer be tolerated by anyone. It does not matter whether or not one likes video games, those who read the bar trial excerpts can agree on this: It is time for Jack Thompson to be disbarred.

I have got one question to ask Mr. Thompson. This is a question that the late attoney Joseph Welch asked the late Senator Joe McCarthy (R-WI) when he accused Fredrick G. Fisher of communist association at the Army v. McCarthy hearings on April 22, 1954. Although what Jack Thompson is doing to the video game industry may be little when compared to what the junior Wisconsin senator did, this question applies to John Bruce Thompson today just as much as it applied to Sen. McCarthy 54 years ago. The question: "HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF DECENCY, SIR?"

Good night...and good luck.