A quick update on Florida lawyer, Jack Thompson's current situation regarding his status with his own Bar association.

According to Gamepolitics, Florida Judge Dava Tunis finds Thompson "guilty on 27 of 31 professional misconduct charges". The charges relate to "Thompson's participation in Strickland vs. Sony, an Alabama case in which the anti-game attorney represented the families of two police officers and a police dispatcher slain by 18-year-old Grand Theft Auto player Devin Moore."

Thompson is also due to appear before the same judge (who Thompson has already lodged formal complaints about) in a disciplinary hearing on June 4th.

Judge Tunis' recommendations for the the guilty decision include:

* Knowingly making a false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal.
* Using means that have no purpose other than to embarrass, delay or burden a third person.
* Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.
* Making statements that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge.

Tunis will send her report to the Florida State Supreme Court on September 2nd. Judges there will make the final decision.

Thompson's closing comments in the case (made available again by Gamespolitics) reveal a man who attempts to sell his own book in open court; claims a right of religious freedom; accuses the judge of not "knowing the half of it" in terms of the case she is presiding over and confuses two basic legal terms (Ex Parte^* and In Camera^**).

Before breaking out the party hats, however, bear in mind that Thompson has still to be disbarred.

Importantly, mark the words of his closing statement, "So, Judge, you have to make a determination, which I'm asking you to make, that the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act is being violated by the Florida Bar because of their effort to punish me for the acting out of my religion."

A clever call because it will certainly appeal to fundamentalist groups who will support Thompson at the bar or as an independent citizen.

Stay tuned...

<sup>Source: GamesPolitics

* "Proceeding brought by one person in the absence of another"
** "In private"</sup>