And so the sun sets…
Posted by Liz Surette on October 24, 2008Because I have heard no word that the Federal District Court has stayed Jack Thompson’s disbarment, I can only assume that we can close the book on this chapter in gaming’s history. The court’s workday will end soon, and with it the career of an individual who in the end could not accomplish his goal of reducing the game industry to the level of obscenity. I’m looking at my monitor out of one eye, and the horizon out of the other right now–as I’ve so often done during gaming sessions–and I’m thinking to myself that the timing is just marvelous. The shadows are growing long (as a certain very talented metal band would say), Thompson’s career and influence are fading away, and the winter is setting in soon. If there was ever a time for me to wax poetic, it’s now.
Of course, the legal profession and the game industry have come out on top today. But I can’t help but feel disappointed that a lawyer, who was once a struggling 2L trying to balance all the different elements of their life like I am, was reduced to this. Although this is a just result, he has already done more damage to the industry than he should have been allowed to. But on a brighter note, we have proven resilient and now that he’s gone, the First Amendment rights of this art form will probably not be threatened so frivolously again. I can only imagine who will take his place, but hopefully the example that the Florida Bar has made of Thompson will discourage the more egregious conduct.
So, am I dancing in the streets? No. Am I flaming and trolling on some message board? No. Am I going to throw a party to celebrate the outcome? No. I’m going to go sit in front of one of my consoles and do what I love to do. And every so often I might pause the game, close my eyes, and think about all the mistakes I won’t make thanks to the example of Mr. John Bruce Thompson, Former Attorney. The only thing that would make this moment more perfect is if I had a lit candle to snuff out as twilight approaches.
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Nope, nothing from the court.
I’m emailing Dan with the filing from the 2nd and the 2 filings by John Bruce earlier today which I describe in the comments in the article prior to this one.
But that’s it for now.
Rather a let down, really. I was kind of hoping they would tell him, like another attorney told him, and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Andrew
I can’t believe it’s over personally… he can no longer call himself an attorney, Big G’s case is lost and he’s basically unemployed.
The sun might have set, and the sun rose this morning. The grass is a bit greener and the skies a bit bluer. However, we can not rest. Jack may have lost his license, but he can still act as an attorney on his own behalf in the federal courts. He can still serve as a mouthpiece every time there’s a school tragedy. He’s still free to spread his lies and misinformation on the unwary.
Maybe his credibility is shot since he can no longer use his “Attorney and You’re Not” stationary, but he’s still out and he will continue to try to remake the First Amendment in his image.
This was a great victory for the First Amendment, for gamers, and for parents who will continue to have the right to choose what is right for their children. But this was just one battle in the culture war.
His ability to do damage to the industry itself is severely limitted now. He can go on as many TV shows and write as many threateneing emails as he wants, but he can never sue Take Two for a crime they did not commit again. Before, he could sue on behalf of parents whose children had been slighted because the perpetrator played GTA IV, but now he has no standing on his own. He can only sue if he has been injured in some way, and the threat caused by the contraversy must be real and not speculative. (United Public Workers v. Mitchell).
He can help draft legislation, but in light of federal precedent he might not get very far unless he writes a statute that looks exactly like New York’s.
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