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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 10:14
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 Jack Thompson, Lawyer who
Accused National Gay News
Found Guilty of
Florida Bar Violations
The Broward Review reported this morning that Jack Thompson, the Coral Gables lawyer who accused the National Gay News.com site last year of being a porn-to-kids publication, and charged Publisher Norm Kent with illegally distributing pornography, has been found guilty of numerous Florida Bar rule violations- including fraud and deceit- by his trial judge.
Long an activist opposing what he calls the "homosexual agenda," Thompson faces sanctions including disbarment, which, he says, the Florida Bar is recommending.
Miami-Dade Circuit 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.
In two instances where she found no guilt, she concluded he did not intend to disrupt tribunals.
The five-page report was dated Thursday and issued Monday. She listed guilty verdicts on 27 rule violations and four not guilty recommendations without articulating how she reached her findings or any details about the violations.
Tunis said she reviewed 2,400 pages of transcripts and 1,700 pages of exhibits to reach her conclusions and promised a more comprehensive report later.
Thompson filed a motion today with the Florida Supreme Court to strike Tunis’ recommendations as vague for its lack of event-specific findings.
“I’m going into this blind,” said Thompson, a crusader against pornography and violent video games. “She should have issued her report at least to her findings and then have a sanction hearing.”
Tunis reviewed complaints based on Thompson’s appearance in an Alabama case and allegations filed with The Bar by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Ronald Friedman, Circuit Judge James Moore of Fayette County, Ala., and attorneys from the law firms of Tew Cardenas and Blank Rome.
The Bar complaints say Thompson sent letters, e-mails, faxes, news releases and court filings peppered with misstatements and falsehoods in violation of the Bar rules of professional conduct. Tew Cardenas name partner Alberto Cardenas referred to Thompson’s actions as “emotional stalking.”
Thompson claims The Bar is conspiring with others to have him disbarred in violation of his First Amendment rights.
With the disciplinary case pending, the Florida Supreme Court issued an order in March preventing him from filing papers in the state’s high court without the signature of another Florida Bar member. Thompson countered that the action violates his Sixth Amendment right to choose his own legal representation.
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