# Jack Thompson disbarred! (yea!) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919 "2008-07-10T01:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/1 "2008-07-10T01:03:00Z")
Not sure this should go here but since he has been the bane of computer gamers for years figure it is appropriate: > [@](#): > > The Florida Bar has recommended disbarment for a period of ten (10) years. This Court respectfully declines to follow the Bar’s recommendation… This case involves factual findings of cumulative misconduct, a repeated pattern of behavior relentlessly forced upon numerous unconnected individuals, a total lack of remorse or even slight acknowledgement of inappropriate conduct… > > \ > > Thus, after careful consideration of the underlying facts in the instant cases, together with the Florida Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the applicable aggravating and mitigating factors and the precedent case law, this Court makes the following recommendations for John Bruce Thompson: > A. Permanent disbarment, with no leave to reapply for admission. > B. Disciplinary costs currently totaling $43,675.35. > > SOURCE: [GamePolitics](http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/we-have-judge039s-report-recommending-permanent-disbarment-jack-thompson) Kind of amazing what it takes to get disbarred and well past time for that guy. I doubt it will shut him up any but hopefully this is enough to even keep him off of FOX News as a talking head. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/2 "2008-07-10T01:23:19Z")
I don’t think the circus is over just yet. The encore performance will be a spate of lawsuits accusing the state bar and courts of collusion in depriving him of his religious freedom. Fortunately, since no one lives or dies by video games, he’s harmless. I’d hate to think of the consequences if he gave a damn about anything more serious. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/3 "2008-07-10T01:23:59Z")
“In a [letter](http://kotaku.com/5022949/thompson-calls-judge-raving-wild-woman-unhinged) to the Judicial Qualifications Commission, Thompson questions Judge Tunis’ mental stability and asks that she undergo a mental health exam. He also calls her a raving wild woman and suggests that she might be mentally impaired.” I should fell sorry for this guy who is so obviously mentally ill, but fuck 'im. [Previous thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=460612) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/4 "2008-07-10T01:37:06Z")
In a weird sort of way I will kind of miss him. He kind of provided a bizarre form of entertainment for us all these years. No worries though…I’m sure I will get over it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/5 "2008-07-10T02:32:09Z")
My favorite was always that very bizarre and mildly schizophrenic official document he published which featured oodles and oodles of pictures and terrible puns along with the actual text. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/6 "2008-07-10T04:46:59Z")
[QUOTE=Omi no Kami] My favorite was always that very bizarre and mildly schizophrenic official document he published which featured oodles and oodles of pictures and terrible puns along with the actual text. [/QUOTE] Wait, there’s a COPY of that somewhere? I need to find this… _goes to Google_ Anyway I have an odd feeling he’ll be getting a little press time for a bit still. I’ll miss him because he was one of those people that ended up pushing gamers to do things like open the Child’s Play charity, and such. And judging by his reaction to the Mass Effect debate (he… defended Mass Effect and basically called the claims stupid and an overreaction iirc, it was kinda surreal) I think there’s a sane person in there SOMEWHERE, just trying to get out. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/7 "2008-07-10T05:41:50Z")
I’m of two minds on this… on the one hand, while being sensational in the media, he pretty much derailed the actual legal attempts of anyone he was with, to the point where he was literally asked to stop helping. On the other hand, he’s a deranged frothing loony with the charisma of a rabid chihuahua. ---
**Author:** ![Omi\_no\_Kami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Omi\_no\_Kami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omi_no_Kami)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/8 "2008-07-10T10:30:31Z")
[QUOTE=Jragon] Wait, there’s a COPY of that somewhere? I need to find this… _goes to Google_ [/QUOTE] Found it! GamePolitics alleges that [this](http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/JT-picture-letter.doc) is the document in question, and it seems to be accurate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/9 "2008-07-10T12:06:56Z")
On a related note, the “Hot Coffee” settlement that Jackass Thomson helped inspire is [going nowhere](http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/hot-coffee-settlement-draws-minimal-response/). Only a couple thousand people have filed claims, out of 12 million units of GTA: San Andreas sold. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/10 "2008-07-10T13:10:36Z")
Never heard of the guy. Just read his Wikipedia entry. Wow. What a sick puppy. ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/11 "2008-07-10T13:32:58Z")
Just to clarify: He’s not disbarred yet. This is still just a recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court, which then has the final say. I suspect the only thing that can potentially save him is if the Court is inherently reluctant to institute a permanent disbarment. Everything he’s done has only served to make his situation worse. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/12 "2008-07-10T16:49:05Z")
[QUOTE=MsRobyn] Fortunately, since no one lives or dies by video games, he’s harmless. I’d hate to think of the consequences if he gave a damn about anything more serious. [/QUOTE] Considering that videogames are what provide me with a paycheck, I take him kinda seriously. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/13 "2008-07-10T18:20:53Z")
Yeah, same here. - sturmhauke, the Once and Future Game Designer ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/14 "2008-07-10T19:21:53Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Considering that videogames are what provide me with a paycheck, I take him kinda seriously. [/QUOTE] I dunno. In a way he was harmless. Annoying as hell but harmless (to the video game industry anyway). Because he was such a flaming nutcase barely anyone could take him seriously. There have been some suggestions (in jest) that Rockstar Games (makers of Grand Theft Auto) had him on their payroll as a sort of viral advertising. No one seriously believes it of course but in these cynical times a tiny part of you thinks, “Ya never know…could be.” His over-the-top rants drowned out most any serious debate on the issue. With him out of the way, if I were you, I’d worry about a Jack Thompson Mk-II who is semi-normal taking his place. It’s not like Thompson was the only one to rail at video games and music, just the loudest and craziest who thankfully managed to torpedo his own efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/15 "2008-07-10T21:11:07Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] I dunno. In a way he was harmless. Annoying as hell but harmless (to the video game industry anyway). Because he was such a flaming nutcase barely anyone could take him seriously. There have been some suggestions (in jest) that Rockstar Games (makers of Grand Theft Auto) had him on their payroll as a sort of viral advertising. No one seriously believes it of course but in these cynical times a tiny part of you thinks, “Ya never know…could be.” His over-the-top rants drowned out most any serious debate on the issue. With him out of the way, if I were you, I’d worry about a Jack Thompson Mk-II who is semi-normal taking his place. It’s not like Thompson was the only one to rail at video games and music, just the loudest and craziest who thankfully managed to torpedo his own efforts. [/QUOTE] Well, I did say I was “kinda” worried. Anyone who took the time to examine his career in any depth at all would pretty quickly see he was a lunatic. But most people weren’t going to make that effort, and are just going to see him as a talking head on Fox News or CNN and take his statements at face value. And then when someone like Hillary Clinton climbs up on the same soapbox, they’re going to have Jack Thompson and his “murder simulators” in the back of their head, and are more likely to vote yes on whatever reduced version of his platform is being peddled at the moment. But mostly, I was just taking exception to **MsRobyn** ’s “they’re only video games” stance. It’s a multibillion dollar industry. That’s a big deal right there, no matter how trivial the actual product itself is. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/16 "2008-07-10T23:37:43Z")
[QUOTE=Jragon] And judging by his reaction to the Mass Effect debate (he… defended Mass Effect and basically called the claims stupid and an overreaction iirc, it was kinda surreal) I think there’s a sane person in there SOMEWHERE, just trying to get out. [/QUOTE] You give him too much credit, I think. Some things to bear in mind when looking at his reaction to the Mass Effect nonsense: 1. While he bashes all video games, his biggest vendetta is against Rockstar/Take Two Interactive, and he’s been getting more obsessive about it. Mass Effect is BioWare, which is owned by EA, and the game was published by Microsoft. They’re barely even on his radar. 2. EA has been engaged in an attempted hostile takeover of Take Two. Thompson even offered EA his “help”–such as it is–in taking over the company, in hopes of damaging Take Two in the process. He wouldn’t want fuss over Mass Effect interfering with an attack on his primary target. 3. He craves attention above all else. He wants to be _the_ champion. The Mass Effect dust-up wasn’t his doing, and it didn’t involve his preferred targets, so he didn’t want anyone paying attention to it. Attention directed to Mass Effect was (from his perspective) attention directed away from him. I don’t know how big an impact any of these particular factors had on his comments–his state of mind is not something I care to explore too deeply. I just want to point out that there are reasons besides “sanity” that he might have wanted to dismiss the matter. As to the impending disbarment: I just talked to the fat lady, and she’s ready for her solo. It’s going to be magnificent. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/17 "2008-07-12T11:24:08Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] But mostly, I was just taking exception to **MsRobyn** ’s “they’re only video games” stance. It’s a multibillion dollar industry. That’s a big deal right there, no matter how trivial the actual product itself is. [/QUOTE] But they’re only played by 12-year-olds, just like Disney is only big with toddlers and certainly can’t compete with a real company patronized by adults, like Delta or Amtrak. (And all games sold in this country carry the Nintendo Seal of Quality. :)) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-thompson-disbarred-yea/455919/18 "2008-07-12T21:21:22Z")
I guess\* someone\* should have played more Phoenix Wright. Bon riddance!