The Bar Trial of Jack Thompson (Part 3): Thompson Cross-Examines Judge Who Kicked Him Off GTA Cop Killer Case
GP: This article contains lengthy excerpts from controversial attorney Jack Thompson’s cross-examination of Alabama Circuit Court Judge James Moore. That being the case, I’m going to dispense with an intro and assume you’ve got the back story already. If not, you’ll want to check out part 1 and part 2 before you tackle this section…
(We pick up as Florida Bar prosecutor Sheila Tuma has completed her direct questioning of Judge James Moore. Thompson begins his cross-examination. In the excerpted transcripts, MOORE is Judge James Moore. JT is Thompson, TUMA is prosecutor Sheila Tuma and DT is Judge Dava Tunis, who is presiding over the case…)
JT: Judge Moore, did you bring a libel action against me?
MOORE: No.
JT: Why not?
MOORE: Well -
TUMA: Objection to relevancy.
DT: Overruled.
MOORE: Why not?
JT: Yes.
MOORE: Mr. Thompson, I want to have the least amount of contact with you I can have. I don’t know how to put it any other way than that. I don’t want to see you…
(Thompson turns to the issue of whether he violated Judge Moore’s order by sending out press releases about the Alabama “GTA killer” case…)
JT: You say that you entered an order that prevented me from communicating about this particular case. Did you say that?
MOORE: Yes….
JT: Well, we had a hearing in June of 2005 at which we discussed what we’d be able to do going up to the criminal trial and then after. Right?
MOORE: That’s correct…
JT: Do you recall saying, “After the criminal case is over, have at it”?
MOORE: I said that… I meant to get in and litigate that case and represent your clients within the rules of the Bar.
JT: Judge, we were talking about communications with the media and you said after the criminal trial, I could have it or we could have at it. Isn’t that right?
MOORE: If you’re saying that I said you could violate the rules and contact the media, that is not what I said…
JT: Okay, what order did you enter that said I couldn’t talk to the media after the criminal case?…
MOORE: I didn’t enter an order… It wasn’t necessary. If you follow the Bar rules, you don’t have to have an order…
(this discussion continues at length, with numerous objections from the Bar prosecutor)
JT: What did I do then, Judge, that violated that rule? You come to Miami. You put your name on a complaint [against me] -
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor… asked and answered.
DT: Overruled.
JT: You file a Bar complaint with Alabama and with the Florida Bar and you said I violated an Alabama Bar rule as to my extra-judicial comments. What did I do?
MOORE: (After examining document) On July 25th, 2005 and August 3rd, 2005, public written statement referred to in a “60 Minutes” appearance in the story on the triple homicide saying, “It has a huge significance for our case in Alabama.” Also, when you took my deposition, you discussed a situation where you had been on Court TV during that time… You shouldn’t have done it.
(Thompson turns to Judge Moore’s relationship with Alabama attorney Clatus Junkin)
JT: Let’s talk about Clatus Junkin… Have you ever heard from anybody that Clatus Junkin suggested that he had a special relationship with you…?
MOORE: Other than a conversation I had with Chris McCool, the District Attorney? No.
JT: And what did Mr. McCool tell you? Why don’t you tell the Court who Mr. McCool is?
MOORE: Mr. McCool is the District Attorney for our circuit and he called me… He said he had had a conversation with you and that there had been some statement to you to him about that Mr. Junkin could influence me in cases before me - and I guess specifically for this case…
JT: Okay. Did you ever talk to (Thompson’s former co-counsel) Ray Reiser, who was on this conversation with me, as to whether or not he heard Clatus Junkin say this?
MOORE: Twice.
JT: Really… And what did Mr. Reiser say?
MOORE: Mr. Reiser said that Mr. Junkin did not make those statements. He told me that on two occasions…
(there then ensued a lengthy round of objections and argument, followed by:)
JT: I want to ask [Judge Moore] about why he didn’t talk to me about Clatus Junkin…
MOORE: I did not because with the allegations being made, what I did was contact the Bar Association and the Judicial Inquiry Commission and referred the matter to them.
JT: You also filed a Bar complaint against me about this. Right? …
MOORE: That’s all part of it, yes…
(eventually, Thompson moves from the Clatus Junkin line of questioning, but gets into a bit of a dust-up with Judge Tunis over an exhibit…)
JT: Let the record reflect the Judge is angry now, as she often is, and I’m simply trying to get to a particular letter, the number of which I didn’t have in the Bar’s exhibit list…
(after some discussion around Thompson’s pro hac vice (visiting) admission to the Alabama Bar and Judge Moore revocation thereof, we get to…)
JT: …You entered an order, though, saying that I couldn’t communicate with you any further.
MOORE: Directly to me or through my fax machine…
JT: Okay, and what was the annoyance that you had with that?
MOORE: Just fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax.
JT: Do you ever get communications by fax from other lawyers?
MOORE: Occasionally…
JT: What’s the cut-off on how many faxes?
MOORE: Oh, I don’t know. You reached it, whatever it is.
JT: Anybody else ever reach it?
MOORE: No… Not close… You ruined my fax machine.
JT: I ruined your fax machine?
MOORE: It quit.
JT: Did it.
MOORE: Yes.
JT: What kind was it?
MOORE: I don’t know. A cheap one.
TUMA: Objection.
MOORE: I’m sorry, Judge.
JT: Did you get a new one?
MOORE: Yes.
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor.
JT: He said it ruined his fax machine. Did you get a new one?
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor.
MOORE: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
DT: Next question.
JT: Why can’t I ask that?
DT: Because it’s irrelevant to the complaint whether or not the Judge in Alabama bought a new fax machine.
JT: Just so the record is clear, it’s highly relevant because this Judge is annoyed with someone who sent him too many faxes and is claiming that I ruined his fax machine.
DT: Do you have another question…?
JT: I’ve got lots of questions.
(what followed was discussion of Thompson’s pro hac vice status and some other aspects of the case… Following a November, 2005 motion by video game industry lawyers to revoke Thompson’s pro hac vice, Thompson tried to withdraw on Nov. 7th. But Judge Moore refused to let him, and revoked his pro hac vice on Nov. 18th)
JT: So you wanted to make sure it was a revocation and not a withdrawal.
MOORE: Yes. Based on the evidence before the Court, the Court had determined that you could not comport yourself to the rules and I revoked your pro hac vice.
(After a time, the discussion wanders back to… the fax machine)
MOORE: …The problem is you were sending just bundles of [documents]… these long speeches and letters to other people that I had no idea what the letters were about… about Katrina money and these lawyers down here in Miami and all this…
JT: And I broke your fax.
MOORE: Yes.
TUMA: Objection.
MOORE: My secretary said be sure and tell you that.
JT: I’ll buy you one.
MOORE: I don’t want you to buy me one. I bought one…
DT: Sustained. Next question…
JT: Why didn’t you hold me in contempt?
MOORE: …Because I knew if I communicated with you based on my past experience with you, it would just get worse…
JT: This Judge thinks that he can revoke the Petition Clause of the Constitution and tell a citizen he can’t communicate with a Judge… Is it constitutional to enter an order to prevent a citizen from communicating with a judge?
MOORE: …Under some circumstances, of course… I have never done this with any other litigant or person even from prison that I get letter after letter after letter about because they weren’t as disruptive and as numerous as the ones you sent… I think a Judge can take proper steps under the circumstance to limit contact…
(next came some additional discussion of Clatus Junkin as well as Thompson’s probing as to why Judge Moore filed the Bar complaint and what Moore’s expectations were about the complaint…)
JT: You’re annoyed with me, aren’t you?
MOORE: I’m not really annoyed. I mean, I don’t know if that’s the word.
JT: What’s the word?
MOORE: The word is, you can’t comport yourself - I base what everybody else does on what the rules say this is what lawyers are supposed to do: civility, professionalism. That’s what I go on. In my opinion based on the evidence, you violated those rules. It’s just as simple as that.
JT: I’m not cordial. Is that it?
MOORE: When you tell a female lawyer that her mother would be ashamed of what she was doing and when you call them liars in Court and when you call me corrupt and put that out there to everybody in the world without any factual basis to it at all?
JT: Let me correct you, Judge. I said to [Take Two attorney] Jim Smith that his mother should be embarrassed by his representing these people who are selling pornography to children… do you think their parents would be proud of what they do?
TUMA: Objection to the relevancy.
DT: Sustained.
JT: Now, hold on. Hold on.
DT: Don’t tell me to hold on. I’m making a legal ruling. Go to the next question.
(Thompson and Judge Tunis spar over the objection, leading to…)
JT: Judge… What am I missing here, guys?
DT: Don’t do that. That is so inappropriate.
JT: What is inappropriate?
DT: For you to turn to the gallery and speak to two lawyers that are 50 feet away and ask them and turn your back to me… I don’t treat you that way. I don’t turn around in my chair and talk to other people. I’m speaking to you, sir…
(back onto questioning Judge Moore…)
JT: Do you think that what this company does - Take Two - is something the people who work there should be proud of?
TUMA: Objection to the relevancy.
DT: Sustained. It’s irrelevant. That is not the issue in this case.
JT: Have you made a decision, Judge, on whether or not these video games had anything to do with the death of these three cops?
TUMA: Objection to the relevancy.
DT: Sustained. You don’t need to answer that question, sir…
(ensuing next was a discussion of Devin Moore’s criminal trial and how a Thompson appearance on the Nancy Grace program might have impacted the trial… Due to time constraints, Judge Moore’s cross-examination was continued until the following day, Nov. 27th, 2007. We pick up at the following point:)
JT: There is one reference to my appearance on “60 Minutes.” I’ll read it to you: “…a mole within Rockstar called me… and told me about this game (Bully) which he said would be the equivalent of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in a school setting in which kids can rehearse bludgeoning their fellow students and teachers.” So you object to my reference to that? …That could have adversely affected the jury in the [Devin Moore criminal trial]?
MOORE: The Court had to consider everything in context.
JT: I’m asking you to consider it in context.
MOORE: Then the answer is yes…
JT: Okay, Judge. How about this context; that we’re living in a country where kids are buying extremely violent video games and they pose a public safety hazard and that I feel I’ve got an obligation as a citizen to warn people about that? …What is there in this news release that refers to the [Devin Moore murder] case that you were understanably protective about?
MOORE: You did not specifically refer to it, but the lawyer that is involved in the case in Fayette, Alabama… where there’s also a capital murder case is sending this out, video games - it’s all to be considered by the public as one thing. They see your face and there’s the association.
(next there is a discussion of a video game alert sent out by Thompson in July, 2005…)
JT: I sent that to the ESRB, Judge… this wasn’t to the media, was it? …the embedding of sex in this game isn’t relevant to what was going on in Fayette, Alabama regarding the death of three police officers… this somehow could have compromised the case - the trial - in Fayette?…
MOORE: Could have. Why take the chance? That was -
JT: Well, you know, Judge, why take the chance with kids buying - since you asked the question - video games with embedded sexual content?
TUMA: Objection to relevancy.
DT: Sustained.
JT: He’s the one who raised it.
DT: He raised it under the guise of why take the chance of polluting a town of 5,000 people that had to produce a fair and impartial jury in a capital case… Let’s stay on point.
JT: I’m on point, Judge. How about polluting millions of kids who buy this game?
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor.
DT: But that’s not the issue before this Court…
JT: Can you comprehend, Judge… a concern I might have beyond supposedly making money in Fayette, Alabama regarding the deaths of three police officers, that I might have a concern about this that has extended back to Paducah, Kentucky when three girls were killed there in 1997…
TUMA: Objection…
JT: Can you comprehend that I have a right to write to the head of the ESRB… that I might have a concern about this as a father of a 15-year-old who lives in this culture, swims in it, with other kids? Can you comprehend I have something beyond the concerns of your case?
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor…
DT: Sustained.
(after some discussing of jury sequestration and sentencing in the Devin Moore case, Thompson, making a joke about the volume of documents in the case, says…)
JT: I went to law school with Al Gore and I’m sure he’s upset I killed a couple of forests in this case.
(Thompson also complained about a parody website created by Take Two, part of which lampooned him… and got into a discussion about a female attorney who represented Take Two in the Alabama case)
MOORE: I remeber testifying about the issue of civility between lawyers and that you had made statements… I can’t remember her name…
JT: Rebecca Ward.
MOORE: Miss Ward… that she should be ashamed as a woman for doing what she was doing… and I believe that… violates the rules of civility that lawyers should have in my court.
JT: Okay,and why do you feel that way?
MOORE: Because that’s what the law and the rule is… That you’re to be civil to one another.
(Thompson then talked about speaking about video games to the National Organization for Women and quoted from Colin Powell on morality. The cross-examination wrapped up with yet another discussion of Clatus Junkin…)
March 20th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
First. Glad to see more of the transcript. At least this guy knows when to object.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Wow. Is that his whole case, that he’s allowed to be a complete ass, even though Bar rules state otherwise?
March 20th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’d say the bit with the fax machine was an unexpected highlight of the whole thing. I tried my best not to laugh.
GP: yeah, agreed, I let that run a little bit for comic relief…
March 20th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Can’t he stay on the point for more than a minute. He proved to be incompetent and to have an unhealthy obsession with violent video games.
No wonder they want to disbar him. He’s even more despicable with the Bar than with gamers.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Lol!!! Everyone who has any prolonged contact with Jack Thompson begins to hate him.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
He still thinks it’s one big self-advertising opportunity…..
March 20th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
@JustChris
Can’t say I’m surprised about the fax machine. I don’t fax often, but considering the thickness of Thompson documents, and how often he sends some, no wonder the fax machine couldn’t hold.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
he said his mole, told him that Bully was GTA: Vice City in a school setting, yet the Bully I played was nothing like that. and probably the only mole he has is somewhere on his body.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
@GoodRobotUs
I bet one of the reason he’ll be disbarred is for using the court to publicly show his “propaganda” (if you can call that propaganda). He does nothing but make his case worse.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
He’s on trial for his career, and he goes out of his way to piss of the judge that’s to decide on the case.
Smart, real smart. Keep on being a moron Thumper. You excel at it.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Oi. It’s no wonder JT’s in so much hot water a lot of the time. He just can’t seem to comprehend that he’s required to act a certain way when in court.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I keep laughing at how Jack keeps attempting to “correct” the judge - you know, by attempting to tell him what to do. One can argue with the judge, but the instant you start to talk *down* to the judge, you make yourself look bad. (Not that Jack needed any help in that department…)
The testimony is pretty compelling, overall.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
OBJECTION! *Points finger*
March 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Also, JACK BROKE THE FAX MACHINE. I had a good laugh over that.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
JT reminds me of an old roomate I had.
Said roomate (also a filthy christian zealot) was not only a total a**hole, but also insane. This guy treated everyone like crap, which caused everyone to hate him, which in turn made him treat others even crappier. The cycle repeated itself for years until he suffered a mental breakdown.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
When it got to the fax machine I just burst out laughing. That came out of [i]nowhere[/i].
March 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I hear a lot of sustaining for objections against JT, and a lot of overruling of objections BY JT!
I like it!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
* nowhere. Forgot which tag to use. x3
March 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Did anyone else picture the judge beating his fax machine in a field, a la, Office Space?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
“Mr McCool” is the most awesome name in the history of the world.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
@Pierre-Olivier:
I understand that point. But the way he goes on about shows how much he milks the least relevant points in a discussion. It almost turned into a customer complaint.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I count six objections to relevancy in that. Wow. Makes me wonder how many weren’t excerpted.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Man, what a hoot! I would like to know, Dennis, about one thing in the parts that were cut out.
I noticed that Tuma usually addressed the Judge as “your Honor” while Jack addressed the Judge as “Judge”.
I’m curious about the difference in how the lawyers are acting in court.
When Sheila Tuma objected, and it was overruled, did she argue with the Judge about it? Or when Jack’s objections were sustained?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
@JustChris:
I’m still laughing. Jack Thompson killed a fax machine!!!
Just fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax after fax.
LOL!!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Exploding Fax Machine!
Seriously though, I am right in thinking that Jack was trying to angle the examination to make it sound like the complaint was only filed because he broke Judge Moores'’ fax machine?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
*breaths*
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA…
GP, please keep these JT posts coming.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
@JDKJ
GTA Made him do it
March 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
“JT: Why can’t I ask that?
DT: Because it’s irrelevant to the complaint whether or not the Judge in Alabama bought a new fax machine.”
Beautiful. Simple as.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Oh, and i love how in all these transcripts you can sense everybody getting increasingly annoyed with Jacky boy.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
“Can you comprehend that I have a right to write to the head of the ESRB… that I might have a concern about this as a father of a 15-year-old who lives in this culture, swims in it, with other kids? Can you comprehend I have something beyond the concerns of your case?”
Can YOU comprehend, Mr. Thompson, that you just blatently admitted in a court of law that you’re a crappy parent that helped put him INTO that ‘culture’? CAN YOU?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Sounds like Judge Moore’s assistant’s still a little salty that Jack killed her fax machince.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
The fax machine was definitely the most entertaining. Trying to turn this into a case of “well you should have bought a better machine”, as opposed to “he flooded us with documents, as evidenced by the fact that he broke our fax machine from all the faxes he sent…”
March 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
@JustChris
I lol’d when jack said he would buy Judge Moore another fax machine
March 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
silly man…he had to get on his soapbox about the horrors of video games mid-examination…i wonder if he realized fox news wasn’t there filming him at the moment…
March 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
The whole trying to turn this into a case about the industry, well, that was just sad.
As is his current request to find out what “valuable” time he’s been wasting, so he can be the judge as to whether it was valuable or not…
March 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
He could claim ink cartridges off Thompson for the fax machine lol
March 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FUCKING SPAZ! WHAT AN ASSHOLE!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Oh my God, did Jack actually argue with a judge over sustaining an objection? Who on earth could be so deluded as to think that was a good idea? How could *anyoune* be so stuid as to say ‘Now hold on there” after an objection’s been sustained? >.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
@GoodRobotUs
“Seriously though, I am right in thinking that Jack was trying to angle the examination to make it sound like the complaint was only filed because he broke Judge Moores’’ fax machine?”
Sounds like it. JT sounded pretty obsessed with trying to show that Moore was only pissy at him over the fax machine, not over all the huge volumes of nasty submissions, and the huge volume of nasty things he said about Moore…
Nope, Moore was just pissy that his cheap fax machine broke…
March 20th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I believe we should have a moment for Judge Moore’s fax machine.
The poor thing never had a chance against the inane filings of JT.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I swear, this is just ripe for spoofing, hell you wouldn’t even need to change any of the dialog.
But still, he clearly has all of them where he wants them, I’m sure part four will include him going for the kill and emerging victorious!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
MOORE: Mr. Thompson, I want to have the least amount of contact with you I can have. I don’t know how to put it any other way than that. I don’t want to see you . . . .
There’s a pattern emerging. First Judge Junkin, now Judge Moore. Gee, I wonder what Judge Friedman’s views on the matter are?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I reiterate my opinion that John should get mental help. His actions are not those of a mentally healthy person.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I should have said, going in for the kill, fax machine style.
Today just isn’t my day…
March 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
“TUMA: Objection to the relevancy.
DT: Sustained.
JT: Now, hold on. Hold on.
DT: Don’t tell me to hold on. I’m making a legal ruling. Go to the next question.
(Thompson and Judge Tunis spar over the objection, leading to…)
JT: Judge… What am I missing here, guys?
DT: Don’t do that. That is so inappropriate.
JT: What is inappropriate?
DT: For you to turn to the gallery and speak to two lawyers that are 50 feet away and ask them and turn your back to me… I don’t treat you that way. I don’t turn around in my chair and talk to other people. I’m speaking to you, sir…”
What an ass.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
“There’s a pattern emerging. First Judge Junkin, now Judge Moore. Gee, I wonder what Judge Friedman’s views on the matter are?”
Considering the crap Judge Friedman had to go through during that contempt hearing. Yeah, I’m pretty sure he decided to go the complaint route too, just to cut down on the amount of time he’d have to spend in Thompson’s presence… Let JT yell at someone else…
March 20th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
*rolls eyes* Geez, JT, here’s a shovel. Start digging now. We’ll let you know when to stop. Seriously, if you plead insanity now, maybe you’ll come out still in one piece in this trial.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I’m gonna UPS eleven-foot poles to Junkin, Moore, Friedman, Tuma, Davis, et al., in case they ever have to touch Jack Thompson.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I’m concerned about my 15 year old son! Then don’t let your kid play the games asshole! Leave everyone else out of it! Also, 15? He’s 15 and he’s still all fragile and shit? Damn dude, maybe you should cut the cord.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
He’s CRAZY! He yells at mice with his shirt off and craps down his chimney!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
@GP:
Keep up the good work, boss man. This is likely the best series of stories I’ve read on this page, if for no other reason than comedy value.
No, Seriously. This is good stuff. Good work.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Oh my. I didn’t realize Jack had kids.
Poor them. I wonder if he even lets them play games at all? Go on the internet?
Given history’s trends of kids raised in over-protective environments becoming involved in the worst elements of society, I sincerely hope Jack’s 15-year old child doesn’t end up in some serious trouble.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Man I m surprised that Jack Thompson is still a lawyer. If he had any real cases or done any real trials he would have failed miserably.
From my experience, trials are theater kind of like a cross between impromptu and rehearsed, each lawyer comes in with “script” or try to direct to follow their plan while carefully planning for what the opposing lawyer. The judge usually has the final say and tries to keep the court moving, kind of like a director. But Jack Thompson just seems to fail. The whole issue about the fax machine and his rant on video games doesnt help his cause. If he wanted to bring it up he should have already planned a strategy out that would give context rather than rant. But as we all know he is a failure as a lawyer.
I wonder if that broken fax machine is the same reason to why the Florida Court sanctioned Jack Thompson? I wonder if that can be used as evidence in ongoing trial? I would push the judge to use the evidence as part of the chain of evidence of Jack Thompson unprofessional behavior.
I wonder if the judge can order Jack Thompson to stop appearing on TV as a “school shooting expert” due to his unprofessional conduct and propensity for lying or making false statement.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I commend Judge Tunis for not throwing her gavel at him. I am pretty dumbfounded that he’s conducting himself this way. We’ve seen him put on his “game face” on television, when he needs to at least appear civilized. I can’t understand why he wouldn’t do the same in court, fighting for his license.
I’m a lot less worried now, though.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Can Jack ever get through 50 words without 4 of them being “Ed Bradley” and “60 Minutes?”
March 20th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
@GP
You should win an award for this!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
god why are you doing this to me! i want the whole thing! the suspense of this eyedropper technique is killing me!
anyways so we have Mr. McCool, who’s next? deputy McLoving?
McLoving WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
March 20th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I was expecting him to tell the judge we’re in the matrix at this point.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
There is a direct connection between the Florida Bar and the poor fax machine and that is the abuse that Thompson puts on it from the pure volume of material sent. The best guess is that the Supreme court knew this and didn’t want to lead the bar into the conclusion that Thompson isn’t a good lawyer and wanted to wait til they came out with their ruling before issuing theirs. Thompson forced them to reconsider. Of course at this point in time it doesn’t matter as the Bar has already made the decision in all likelihood and is just sealing the deal with the proper amount of due diligence.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
@ Maratanos
Dude. He freaking used his son in ’stings’ buying Bioshock and Halo 3 at Target and Best Buy, respectively, while admitting that he was right there at the time of purchase, and tried to put blame on those retailers. Even though they weren’t really ’stings’ because, in order to execute one, you have to be, you know, a police officer. Not a lawyer. He SHOULD have known that, since he IS a lawyer, and we’re not. Hooah.
No, i’m NOT kidding. Look it up in the search function here.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Now do ya’ll see why Judge Tunis ain’t in no rush to send her Report to the Supremes? She had more than her fill of Jack and knows that as soon as she does, she’ll have another hearty serving on Jack piled on her plate. She’s savouring the lull between courses.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Jack murdered a fax machine. Gold!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
We need to buy this guy an Objection button with how many times he was shouting it. Maybe have Phoenix Wright’s voice boom through the court room when it is pressed. OBJECTION!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
@JDKJ
Wanna bet that (if by some crazy miracle) should JT retain his license, the next complainant will be Judge Tunis?
After all, there is a pattern here.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
someone should do a flash game about this
and also a comic by penny-arcade:
Your honor id like to present evidence as to mr thompsons abuse:
exhibit A: the dead printer
March 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Oh yeah, he has a kid. He used his kid a few times in “sting operations” where he’d send his kid into a Target or Best Buy and see if he was able to buy a game like GTA.
He probably has a bunch of copies of GTA at home from these “sting operations”.
He probably LOVES GTA. Plays it nightly. That wouldn’t shock me one bit. He’s already proven some pretty significant hypocrisy in the past, I bet you he shuts himself into his den late at night, locks the door, puts on the headphones so the wife and kid can’t hear, then tries to see how long he can live with a 5-star rating in GTA3 (which, by the way, was always a fun thing to do when you got bored in that game).
March 20th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Bar Counsel needs to brush up on the ol’ “calls for hearsay” objection.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Fax machine spews out the last of hundreds pages of recent submissions, each with their own cover letter. All from JT. Most having nothing to do with the case at hand, JT is just fax-spamming press releases…
*fax machine dies*
*Judge adopts Capt. Kirk pose*
THOMPSONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
March 20th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Of coarse he’s crazy no sane man would feel that he will emerge victorious when he’s dug his own grave.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
What ever happened to his deposition of the president? JT swore up and down that he would get George W. on the stand.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
This is classic! Has anyone else noticed that Thompson doesn’t seem to be actually arguing his case? The majority of his examination is drawing out information that makes him look bad, it’s like he’s trying to help the prosecution. Anyone else starting to really like Moore and Tunis. Moore because he’s classy and Tunis for not going off the deep end at JT. He’s being a total douche, maybe his plan is to have Tunis attack him and then say “See, your biased against my perfect rationality”
March 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
The more he talks, the more he digs his own career grave.
I probably would have held him in contempt by about halfway through his, “But I’m right and you’re wrong judge, stop questioning my baseless accusations!” spiel.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
wow. this is amazing. Jacko’s questioning is more random than I could have ever imagined.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
When reading the exchanges between Jack and Judge Tunis, it should be understood that, by all reports, she’s generally as patient as Job with litigants who appear before her. Jack lucked-out when Chief Judge Farina pulled her name. If Judge Friedman’s name could have gone in the hat and Jack crapped-out and got him and pulled that kinda insolence in his courtroom, Jack would have gotten an insider view of Dade County Jail.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Thompson seemed relatively sane at first, it’s almost surprising how fast that degenerated.
I’d also really like to see the missing portions, is there anywhere we can download the complete transcript?
March 20th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I’m convinced now - he learned how to behave in court from television. Danny Crane can get away with that kind of stuff easily - you know why? Danny Crane that’s why!
Does he even know what he’s in court for? It’s as if he’s amalgamated every case he’s ever had into his arguments and instead of trying to defend himself he becomes flippant and completely derails anything he has going.
I think this sums up the mood of everyone listening:
“DT: Don’t tell me to hold on. I’m making a legal ruling. Go to the next question.”
Jack Thompson - smooth operator…
March 20th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
You know, back before GP started posting these transcripts I really thought the Florida Bar would simply suspend Mr. Thompson’s license. I figured they would give him a 91 day suspension and maybe (if we were lucky) make him re-sit the Florida Bar Examination. However, thanks to these transcripts, I’m starting to be hopeful of an actual disbarment.
Way to prove that I’ve been giving you too much credit Mr. Thompson.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
@JT
You know, maybe you should start doing the opposite of what the voices in your head are telling you.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Judge:Don’t you ask him ’bout that fax machine again!
Jack:……….faxmachine.
Judge:AAARRRGH!
Jack:I’ll sue this whole court for that “aaarrrgh”!
Judge:(Looks at Moore)
Moore:Toldja.
Jack:HOOOAH!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
This is awesome! Excellent work Dennis!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Nick Sparks Says:
“He could claim ink cartridges off Thompson for the fax machine lol”
That would have been most precious.
The faxes you sent ended up costing us hundreds of dollars in ink alone! Add paper and wear and tear on the fax machine as well….
March 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Wow, just wow. As someone who has seen more than a fair share of British Civil Court actions, the mind just boggles at the US system.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Jack Thompson:
Asshole…
Videogame hater…
Attention Whore…
Lyer…
Massacre Chaser…
Fax Killer… xD
March 20th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Moral of the Story:
If you’re expecting Jack to correspond with you via facsimile, quickly trade in the old flimsy, light-weight model for a new super-heavy-weight-heavy-duty-fax-after-fax-after-fax model. And stock up on ink while you’re there.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
i concur, Dennis.
if we could please, could we know where to acquire the full document?
March 20th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
“And drive them into the grave that they’ve been so happily digging.” (Lord Hood in Halo 3.)
Seems to fit. JT is only digging himself deeper and deeper into the charred remains of his career.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
This is truly a train being derailed…
…you can see the horror but no matter what you do looking away isn’t an option.
Oh and the fax was PRICELESS! LOL!
…Wonder if they can sue for property damage.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
@jds
Now that you mention it, yes, I do.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
“Can you comprehend, Judge… a concern I might have beyond supposedly making money in Fayette”
Nope, I can’t comprehend that with all the evidence you have provided us over the years.
But I do comprehend his need to spin things and do damage control…. He already has the massacre chaser bit attached to his name, the last thing he needs is a second one along the lines of Jack “fax machine killer” Thompson(Feel free to improve it)!
@ Pixelantes Anonymous
“He’s on trial for his career, and he goes out of his way to piss of the judge that’s to decide on the case.”
Ever since his first fight with the bar, he has learned that if he ticks people off it invalidates whatever they rule.
That explains his tactics, especially the Bully case.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Here come the headlines:
“John Bruce Thompson, you are hereby under arrest for the murder of an innocent Fax Machine. May God have Mercy on your soul!..”
March 20th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I can see it now…
“Our new machine comes with a sleek new look, and is now Jack Thompson proof!”
March 20th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
@Lanodantheon
Hah, love it. Add “Harassment of the Gamer Population” to the charges!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
@GP –
When you wrap all of this coverage up, do you think you could post the links to the full filings for all of the source documents? I’d really love to hear more about that fax machine! =)
March 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
So let’s see:
Us:Mr Thompson, the charges are murder of an innocent fax machine, harassment of judges, microsoft, GTA, gamepolitics.com, vgcats, the gamer population, and sidestepping natural selection. How do you plead?
JT:CONSPIRACY!
March 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
JT: Did you get a new one?
MOORE: Yes.
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor.
JT: He said it ruined his fax machine. Did you get a new one?
TUMA: Objection, Your Honor.
MOORE: I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
DT: Next question.
JT: Why can’t I ask that?
DT: Because it’s irrelevant to the complaint whether or not the Judge in Alabama bought a new fax machine.
JT: Just so the record is clear, it’s highly relevant because this Judge is annoyed with someone who sent him too many faxes and is claiming that I ruined his fax machine.
HAHAHA, oh man!!! Jack’s livelihood is on the line and he wants a serious cross examination over a fax machine?!
When will we see “Jack ‘Fax Killah’ Thompson” on letterheads?
March 20th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Didn’t we all know before now that Jack never lets the fax get in the way of his arguments?
March 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Also, poor TUMA. Can’t we get him/her an Objection buzzer?
March 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Holy hell, I never thought things like this can be so funny. I might actually miss Jack, for the pure fact that he supplies me with so much lulz.
I was just cracking up throughout the entire thing, especially the fax machine part. Man, I’d kill to read the entire thing on this case.
Way to go Jackie-Boy. You’ve managed to screw yourself over so bad. How much of a tard must you be to spread your “vidja gaems are teh evils!1″ bullshit during a case WHERE YOU ARE TRYING TO DEFEND YOURSELF. Shit, the only thing he did was show the court the exact reasons why he should
be disbarred. Because, we all know disrespecting the Judge like that is a good way to go. Honesty, I’m merely an 18-year-old High School student, with no knowledge of law, and I believe I can make a better lawyer than you.
I was seriously ticked off that he has the gall to begin his game-industry ranting during this case.
Jack seriously fails at being a lawyer. I really feel sorry for his wife and kids. I really, really do.
Speaking of his son… Good job on that bullshitting there, Jack…
“Can you comprehend that I have a right to write to the head of the ESRB… that I might have a concern about this as a father of a 15-year-old who lives in this culture, swims in it, with other kids? Can you comprehend I have something beyond the concerns of your case?”
HAH!
1. If he is “swimming in this filth” then you obviously fail as a parent. Why should the government step in to do YOUR job? Asshat…
2. I do recall a certain white-haired, nutjob lawyer who has done some “sting” operations with said child, getting him to buy M-Rated games in an attempt to show the “evils of the game industry”
Honestly, Jack, keep the whole “Lawyer” thing to your wife, really.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
He sounds like a kid whining to his parents about some point he wants to be right about even though that is not the conversation they are having.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
@SithLibrarian
Tuma’s a chick.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Jack should play a fuckin’ Batman villain. “The Rambling Nutjob!”
March 20th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I understand that Dennis can’t type in the entire document but my concern is he may be editorising and giving an incomplete picture. Its possible that certain portions of text are being left out to further lampoon Jack (as if he requires further assistance in that regard.) Dennis has admitted to including a rambling discussion for the purpose of comic relief.
GP: I’m exploring ways to post the transcripts in toto… Until then, you’ll have to bear with the selected excerpts. I think the comic relief in the fax exchange was certainly part of the value of that particular transcript. And, moreover, I think Thompson sensed it too…
March 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
@ JDKJ
ROTFL!
Darn it, glad I already finished eating before reading that pun!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Oh, look at that, being a crazy asshole made Thompson kill a fax machine, let’s ban crazy assholes!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
@Motive Alert
Appreciate your concerns, so I’m asking once. If you don’t like how Dennis does things, then leave.
@Dennis
Got your back, brother. (In Gamer Society VS Thompson we gamers are all brothers and sisters)
March 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I’d like to see a T-Shirt with “Jack Thompson Ruined My Fax” on it.
* I almost made a typo that would have read: “Jack Thompson Ruined My Pax” But the good folks at Penny Arcade would never let that happen.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Jack Thompson: Faxilante
March 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
@ GRIZZAM 512
You’re forgetting that he basically thinks he’s the bastard child of Batman and Jesus.
He HAS compared himself to both of them numerous times…
March 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
@motive alert
my guess is the more damaging parts have been left out actually
(the bar rarely lets other in on discplinary hearings)
March 20th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
@DavCube
OH YEAH! Didn’t he pass out licenses with batman pasted over his face or somethinng like that?
March 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
@Davcube:
Well he’s half right about that… (moreso the ‘bastard’ part than the Jesus/Batman part.)
Also:
DT: Don’t do that. That is so inappropriate.
JT: What is inappropriate?
DT: For you to turn to the gallery and speak to two lawyers that are 50 feet away and ask them and turn your back to me… I don’t treat you that way. I don’t turn around in my chair and talk to other people. I’m speaking to you, sir…
Florida: Where it’s so easy to become a lawyer, even a caveman can do it.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
@GP:
The whole journalism thing ain’t my schtick (much of the little I know on the subject, I gained from reading Spiderman comics), so lemme ask you: Aren’t editors supposed to editorialize? Or do they just run around the office shouting, “Stop the presses!!”
GP: are you asking me to offer my opinion of these transcripts? I think they speak for themselves.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
@ Grizzam
Something like that, yeah. Though i believe they were something a bit more legal-oriented, not lisences, but whatever.
And on my past comment, i should have added this: “And that WOULD explain the gay porn…”
March 20th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
@ DarkTetsuya
JT: Hey. NOT. COOL.
XD
March 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Wow. Just… wow. We knew how immature and disrespectful Jacko could be toward, y’know, *us*. But to see him act like that in a court of law… it just boggles the mind.
Good thing for him, though, that he’s not trying that crap in a situation where his entire legal career (such as it is) hangs in the balance.
…oh, wait.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I don’t know how people can stand to be in the room with the guy. Also I wonder if every judge that gets a case with JT listed in it goes “Oh no.”
March 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
The way things are going for JT made me think of something. Seeing as how his life now is in a downward spiral.
I think that after his Disbarment and him being banned from the Florida Supreme Court is going to force him to get a grip on the reality of the situation. Once he finds out that no one wants to deal with him or his “Crusade”, he is going to go apesh@t and possibly could physically harm so one, and would blame it on Rockstar/Take Two, Florida Bar, and Florida Supreme Court.
It just crossed my mind. Tell me what you all think.
March 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Keep em coming GP! I’m loving it!
March 20th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I should be taping this….
March 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Judge Dava Tunis has got to be starting to understand why so many people hate Jack Thompson. I thought he would be smart enough to try and be as pleasant to this Judge as possible, but it looks like he’s going out of his way to piss of another Judge.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
@GP:
No. I’m trying to better understand Motive Alert!’s concern that you may be editorising. I had always thought that was what y’all do — but like I said, I dunno too much about what y’all do.
GP: No, I’m not editorializing with the transcripts - just trying to pick out the most interesting and relevant parts…
March 20th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Wow….just wow
The prime example of career suicide. You piss off a judge that yanked your right to pratice law in Alabama, and now you piss off the judge that could very easily yank your right to pratice law ANYWHERE.
JT, you’re sinking fast kid
March 20th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
You can say a lot about JT, but he sticks to his convictions, going on a games rant while defending his livelyhood must take some guts (or severe lack of self-preservation. Probably the latter actually)
But as many have already said, he is essentially digging the grave for his carreer. No judge would allow this man to continue to practice his craft, because that would essentially undermine confindence in the entire judicial system of the US.
@GP: Thank you for taking the time and effort to summarise and provide an excerpt of the hearings of JT, this is something that may affect all gamers afteral.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
What a bloody fruit loop. Jack Thompson thinks he’s king of the world or some nonsense.
Maybe he’ll wake up to the reality the rest of us are living in once he finds out he’s no longer allowed to practice this bullshit he calls ‘law’.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Dennis,
This one probably should have been saved for last. It might be hard to top the entertainment value of “Jack Thompson: Destroyer of Fax Machines!”
March 20th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
keep ‘em coming:)
*eyes champagne bottle*
March 20th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I always thought of JT as THE pain in the ass of the videogames industry, but I never knew the depth of idiocy and obnoxiousness he’s mastered.
OMG–I’m suprised the judge did just yell out “Does Wayne Brady hafta choke
a bitch!” and pimp slap his ass.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Talking down to the judge, trying to decide when an objection is or isn’t sustained….
who does he think he is, Manfred Von Karma?
March 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I don’t know why people think when he’s disbarred that he’ll try and go and injure someone else. While I don’t doubt that being disbarred will trigger a psychotic break, I think it’s more consistent with his personality that he will attempt to spectacularly martyr himself and commit a public suicide in the same way that R. Budd Dwyer did.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
@Black Manta: Jack douses himself in gasoline, sets himself on fire, and runs screaming, “THE GAMES MADE ME DO IT!” while holding a copy of GTA outside of the courthouse. That’s totally how it would happen.
@kurisu7885: YES. He is *totally* Von Karma. Let’s pray that there is no Franziska to take his place.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
This is a man who is committing career suicide. Thompson needs to smarten up fast.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
am i the only one that got a Harvey Birdman flashback when seeing this part
“JT: Okay. Did you ever talk to (Thompson’s former co-counsel) Ray Reiser, who was on this conversation with me, as to whether or not he heard Clatus Junkin say this?
MOORE: Twice.
JT: Really… And what did Mr. Reiser say?
MOORE: Mr. Reiser said that Mr. Junkin did not make those statements. He told me that on two occasions…
(there then ensued a lengthy round of objections and argument, followed by:)”
i get the feeling the round of objections sounded something like this
JT: Objection
DT:he’s your witness
JT: ohh right….*at moore* Shut up!
March 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Allow me to elaborate on my view. I have been a long time lurker; I am enjoying reading his special on Jack. I am thankful to Dennis for his years covering these matters and although I don’t always agree with everything posted here, the same can be said of all the news sites I visit.
My point is that by selectively choosing excerpts and providing minimal context and no indication as to what else is missing it can give a false impression.
Take the following excerpts from some of the other posters:
“Can’t he stay on the point for more than a minute. He proved to be incompetent and to have an unhealthy obsession with violent video games.”
“This is classic! Has anyone else noticed that Thompson doesn’t seem to be actually arguing his case? The majority of his examination is drawing out information that makes him look bad, it’s like he’s trying to help the prosecution.”
“JT sounded pretty obsessed with trying to show that Moore was only pissy at him over the fax machine, not over all the huge volumes of nasty submissions, and the huge volume of nasty things he said about Moore…”
No doubt I’m about to be flamed for taking these quotes out of context but stick with me for a second.
These posters have based their opinion on the selected quotations from two days worth of testimony (well for Judge Moore anyways.) But is it fair to make those comments without knowing the full story? Is Jack failing to argue his case? Can’t Jack stay on point? Was Jack truly obsessed with the fax machine? Or is that just how it appears because of selective editing?
GP: It’s a fair question. I just really don’t know of another way to present the transcripts without excerpting them. You can see how long this was, and it wasn’t 5% of the total length of Moore’s cross-examination. As I said, if I can publish the full transcripts that I have, I will, but as a download, not an article. To be honest, I think there are some things in the full transcripts that I’ve excluded from the excerpts that will make the man look worse. But I’ll let others judge that if I can get those transcripts rolled out.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Heh, to be honest, I don’t often see the people on here flame anyone who doesn’t arrive with a bucket full of stereotypes about us, and you haven’t so don’t worry about it
The point you raise is valid, I’ll agree, it’s been raised as a concern over the previous articles as well. I suppose at the end of the day, there are two things to consider, the first is the sheer weight of paperwork involved here, Dennis is trying to get the entire document online, but if we are talking about 2 weeks of testimony, that could take some time. I could argue that we’ve been having to endure Jack selecting facts as he so desires, but that isn’t really a defence. I suppose that, as long as the people actually judging the hearing are aware of the content of them, it doesn’t really matter what we think anyway. Thompsons’ attitude towards us left the community with a pre-formed opinion, much like everyone Jack attacks, you are left feeling like you’re having to deal with a 6 year-old who just happens to be in his 50’s, but I digress.
The final concern, as Dennis mentioned, was the legal one, there are people and events mentioned that may not be intended for public broadcast without permission, considering a large part of the scope of the Alabama complaint is based around Thompson releasing sensitive information, I think Dennis has to be pretty careful how he treads on releasing information.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
@ kurisu7885
Hence my original point on Phoenix Wright a few comments up.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hrmrmr, better then the last one.
HE GOT WHIPPED>
March 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Wait, scratch that, that was in the last article. (The sanction one)
March 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
@GRIZZAM 512:
Jack should play a fuckin’ Batman villain. “The Rambling Nutjob!”
Damn you, now all I can think of is jack in purple spandex backed up by a pair of henchmen in peanut costumes. It’ll talke weeks to get that image out of my head!
@GP:
When you said you’re investigating ways to post the entire transcript, were you speaking legally or technologically? If the latter, might I suggest a scanner & some optical character recognition software? It’s not perfect but it’d be a lot faster than hand typing and a word doc would be a lot smaller than hundreds of scanned JPGs
When it comes to the fax, is anyone else getting the urge to rewrite the lyrics to the Bodycount song Cop Killer to make it about faxes?
March 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
@tony:
Yeah I could just see JT asking ‘didyagetthatthingIsentya?”
(What can I say, I’m a huge Peter Potamus fan
)
March 20th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
“Objection to the relevancy”,
boy when Jack Thompson finally does get disbarred, that should be the headline to the article, and a fitting epitaph of sorts to his legal career..
March 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
MOORE: Mr. Thompson, I want to have the least amount of contact with you I can have. I don’t know how to put it any other way than that. I don’t want to see you…
amazing
March 20th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
@Barfo
I’m making the T-shirts.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
What Jack fails in being civil, he makes up in ruining the fax machines of people he dislikes.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
@Paulrus
You, sir, pass for this undenyably true statement.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Judge Moore doesn’t even want to use words with the letter U in them when it pertains to Thompson.
I wonder how many other fax machines died at the hands of Thompson?
@ Aliasalpha
GP was probably speaking legally. GP mentioned in a comment that during Thompson’s trial, several people’s names came up that, while mentioned, weren’t part of the trial.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Guys/Girls/Other, I have a suggestion. Since we know the date that the decision will be handed down, what do you say to the idea of us each chipping in a dollar or two to hire a jazz band to wait outside the court? When the decision is finally handed down and he’s walking out a beaten & dejected man (though doubtlessly one with an elaborate plot for revenge), the band can strike up a rousing rendition of “Hit The Road Jack”. Obviously have someone there with a video camera, just in case the press decide it’s not worth covering.
Personally I think the comedy of seeing that would be one of the best investments we could ever make. It’ll be so popular it may kill youtube once and for all…
March 20th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
@Aliasalpha
If it kills YouTube there will be vengeance. I am not threatening you, I am simply saying that killing YouTube is bad, as bad as JT actually convincing the world that video games like Tetris cause kids to shoot up their schools.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
@BearDogg-X
Ahhh yes, I remember that now. Damn, I thought I was being helpful…
March 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
@Shadow Darkman, Anti-Thesis of Jack Thompson
Oh I agree mate, I’m just suggesting that so many people want to see him go down in flames might make the youtube servers go UP in flames
March 20th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
@Aliasalpha
As long as the site doesn’t vanish.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
We need a fax machine thread.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
First. Glad to see more of the transcript. At least this guy knows when to object.
Yeah, after Jack says something.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
@Mystic
He kinda has to, with all the random BS he spews out.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
It’s weird. Usually I’m condescending towards anyone who cares about the personal life of some famous person that neither they nor I have ever met. All that tabloid-ish crap about who’s pregnant, who’s been caught driving drunk, who’s been sexually deviant, and who caught some face time at a charity event to promote their latest movie/TV show/book/whatever.
And yet I find Jack Thompson rather fascinating. I suppose that it might be in part because this trial isn’t quite as frivolous as that stuff I mentioned above.
But on the other hand, there’s also the fact that his life seems to be unfolding sort of like a tragedy (in the literary sense, not the colloquial “this is awful” sense). We’ve got the “hero” with the tragic flaw, which in this case is hubris (fairly common heroic flaw, isn’t it?). We’ve got several actions that have been leading to the climax (whether or not we’ve reached it yet I can’t say. That news from today about him making new filings in his own name after being told not to has probably stirred the pot a bit.). And so, just like with any good story, I’ve just got to know what happens next. The average celebrity gossip doesn’t have anywhere near as good a plot.
Semi-interesting side note: A Wikipedia search shows a distinction between the modern and Ancient Greek usages of the word hubris. Today it means pride, but to the Ancient Greeks it meant elevating oneself via actions that shame and humiliate others. Arguably, Jack Thompson fits both definitions.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Is there a way (or will there be a way) to read the transcript for the entire case? I think it would be a good read.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
@Orange Soda
Yep. Perplexing. Perplex-o-nominon.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I can’t believe he actually complains about OTHER PEOPLE not being civil to HIM. JT’s the grand example of non-politeness.
I’ll make sure to never leave my e-mail address public anymore. I’m sure he can crash a mail server just as easily.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Wow I was reading that while listening to “what is this feeling” from Wicked the song ended the same time as I finished so I restarted it (love the harmony) when the weirdest thing popped into my brain Judge Tunis suddenly became Elphaba (green skin and tenor voice) and Jack became Galinda (soprano) from the beginning (vain self-conscious etc.) when the students part hit the entire courtroom (even Moore) got up and began dancing but instead of siding with Galinda (Jack) they’re all on Elphaba’s (Tunis’) side there were other differences (though Galinda was still talking, or rather whining, to her…err his parents) but I won’t bore you expect for one detail the final “boo” is Elphaba (Tunis) hitting Galinda (Jack) with her Gavel.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I think I know how this whole scenario is going to play out…
[In court]
Judge: I have decided to disbar one Jack Thompson on the grounds of misconduct and abuse of the legal system.
Thompson: (Being carried out by the bailiffs) This is all a conspiracy by Take-Two and Blank Rome! They’re contaminating our children! You’ll regret this!
[At Thompson’s home]
Thompson: (Posting comments on Kotaku, Joystiq, and GP) You drug-using gamers will pay for this. I told you that the Florida Bar was playing right into my hands…
[The next day outside the courthouse]
News Reporter: Former attorney Jack Thompson has threatened to jump from the top of the courthouse unless the Florida Bar issues a written apology, complete with a box of See’s Candy, and reinstates the utterly disgraced lawyer.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I think I know how this whole scenario is going to play out…
[In court]
Judge: I have decided to disbar one Jack Thompson on the grounds of misconduct and abuse of the legal system.
Thompson: (Being carried out by the bailiffs) This is all a conspiracy by Take-Two and Blank Rome! They’re contaminating our children! You’ll regret this!
[At Thompson’s home]
Thompson: (Posting comments on Kotaku, Joystiq, and GP) You drug-using gamers will pay for this. I told you that the Florida Bar was playing right into my hands…
[The next day outside the courthouse]
News Reporter: Former attorney Jack Thompson has threatened to jump from the top of the courthouse unless the Florida Bar issues a written apology, complete with a box of See’s Candy, and reinstates the utterly disgraced lawyer.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
@ Aliasalpha
You won’t believe how bad I would love to see this happen. I would donate so much cash just to see that happen. I would die
March 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Sorry about the double post.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
@Kantana:
I can, because in his world all the streets go one way… in hisfavor.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
@Repudiator
It wouldn’t be illegal would it? I think we need someone trustworthy in florida to set it up. Haha how about Jack Thompson, he’s a lawyer and you have to trust them…
March 20th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
JT: ….and one more set of documents sent…..
Fax: OBJECTION!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2008 at 12:03 am
Jack Thompson: Enemy of the video game industry and fax machines.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:09 am
something tells me JT faxed, several times, a graphic similar to the one at http://i.somethingawful.com/u/russ/goldmine53/gwbbq.jpg
March 21st, 2008 at 12:18 am
sometimes I seriously wonder when the hell are they going to throw mr thompson into the happy rubber padded room with the special jacket
March 21st, 2008 at 12:31 am
For some reason, after this trial ends, I can see Thompson standing at his fax machine for hours, sending pages and pages of useless crap to Judge Moore, all the while muttering “Die die die die die die die!”.
It’s very amusing.
March 21st, 2008 at 12:35 am
Does anybody else think his wife has GOT to be drunk at home?
Isn’t she a lawyer, too?
How does she put up with his crap!? This makes even HER look bad!
March 21st, 2008 at 12:50 am
Isn’t Jack supposed to be trying to save his career? and not kicking in the afterburners to disbarment?
March 21st, 2008 at 1:08 am
@Erik:
But why should he worry about his career? He’s got the gaming industry and Take 2 right where he wants them — on the ropes and on the road to financial ruin…… ROTFLMAO I’m sorry I couldn’t do that with a straight face…
Seriously though, I wish I knew what the effing holdup is. We all know it’s literally (and not figuratively) GAME OVER for Jack, so why drag it out longer than it has to be?
March 21st, 2008 at 1:32 am
@DarkTetsuya
Well in Jack’s twisted mind he is some kind of cunning Dr. Doom-esque person who is weaving a diabolical plan which will ensnare both the Florida Bar and Take-Two. And he sees his “failures” as signs that he is winning. But while he is tapping his fingers together and saying, “Eeeeeexcelent”, what he doesn’t realize is that he doesn’t have a diabolical plan.
He could end up homeless, jobless, divorced and smelling like urine while begging for change at the bus stop and he will still think, “Yes! I’m homeless! Now I can finally destroy Take-Two!”
But by then his press releases will be scrawled on bus station bathroom stall walls in marker.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:39 am
Poor fax machine. May it rest in peace in fax machine heaven.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:57 am
LOL. We always knew Jack showed us no respect when he posts here (one reason he’s banned), but he always seemed to offer some respect to his superiors and television hosts. Has he accepted his disbarment and decided to go out with a bang? I can’t see anything else that makes much sense.
And, of course, that bit about the fax machine was comedy gold. Please, GP, make sure you post any other similar excerpts. It made my day.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:58 am
Can’t….breathe…..
Laughing…too…hard…
March 21st, 2008 at 1:59 am
I love these articles Dennis, hopefully you get the full transcripts soon. It is a great read and well, the fax machine part was funny. I’m surprised he attempts to “correct” the judge in his own vision. Suicidal move on that part, as you never tell a judge they are wrong… >_>
I love coming home and reading Gamepolitics.
Keep up the great reporting, Dennis.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:05 am
@ GP - there is a lot of text-recognition software out there for scanners. If you can get ahold of some of it (and I’m sure some of it must be free) and you’ve got a scanner with an auto-document feeder, you’re set! HP has a pretty cheap doc-feeder scanner out there right now that comes with pretty damn good text recognition software, and it takes very little configuration to get it running QUITE well. That would allow you to get the whole transcripts out in PDF or RTF format very quickly.
If you’re interested in more info, I’ll get you the model number I’m using at work these days. Just leave a note here, or email me.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:05 am
Is there a place I can get access to the entire transcript? Keeping up with the expeditions of JT is a hobby of mine, as I grew up in Paducah, KY and knew the girls in that incident in ‘97. Everytime he uses it as fodder for publicity which is all he really is doing, it angers me. I feel he is going to fail in this case, and I want to see every word of it if possible.
March 21st, 2008 at 2:09 am
Agreed with those who said he isn’t arguing his case. He keeps trying to turn it into a retrial of the Alabama case, which he knows it isn’t and making sure to ask questiosn where he knows the answer will be bad for him. He’s either comically incompetent or wanting to get disbarred so he can be a martyr.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:11 am
I really don’t know what I can add. It’s all been said before. Wow.
As I asked elsewhere: have any law students submitted JT’s files to their profs for review? Did your profs laugh at the filing, or did they add constructive feedback? Were there actual legal arguments? I really do want to know.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:20 am
He has a 15 year old? I wonder how much he or she must be hated in school for having a tyrant father who is trying to ruin games.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:49 am
How miserable is his kid, or is he so busy fighting the big bad video game companies that he just doesn’t parent like most people? Does he realize that there is a REAL war going on with REAL death?
OVER 1000 DEAD CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS
3992 DEAD AMERICANS
82000-89000 DEAD IRAQIS
The fact that anyone gives this retard the time of day disgusts me.
March 21st, 2008 at 3:49 am
Is it just me or JT have an unhealthy obsession with fax machines in general?
and when he’s talking to judge in a way like “Can you comprehend, Judge… ” it’s never a good sign IMO. It feels like JT is trying to send messages like “I know that you can’t understand this judge because I’m whole lot smarter than you, so lemme explain for you, do you prefer picture book?” NEVER NEVER a good sigh at all.
March 21st, 2008 at 4:42 am
“JT: Now, hold on. Hold on.
DT: Don’t tell me to hold on. I’m making a legal ruling. Go to the next question.”
Oh, snap!
March 21st, 2008 at 5:10 am
I think he kept going back to the fax machine because he thought Moore was exaggerating about it breaking from too many faxes. He was hoping Moore would say “Ok, it didn’t break but it was a lot of faxes” and he could go “AH HA, YOU’RE LYING ON THE STAND!” Unfortunately for him Moore wasn’t lying.
March 21st, 2008 at 5:30 am
Confirmed Murders Caused by Games: 0
Confirmed Fax Machines KIA by Jack Thomspon: 1
Our murder is simulation, your murder is real, scumbag!
March 21st, 2008 at 5:46 am
Jack Thompson The Fax Killah and self proclaimed expert on School massacres.
March 21st, 2008 at 5:52 am
JACK THOMPSON used LEGAL DOCUMENTS on FAX MACHINE.
Critical Hit! It’s super effective!
FAX MACHINE fainted!
March 21st, 2008 at 5:52 am
@ Nick
Based on what I’ve heard, his kid is pretty much embarrassed by him. He probably also gets ragged on if not outright picked on for it by his peers. At the same time, though it sounds like he’s also been indoctrinated into his way of thinking, otherwise he wouldn’t keep going on these stings. Also I once heard of a guy who tried to call Jack on the phone, got his son, and when he told him who he was he said, “Ewww! You’re a gamer!” If it’s the case, then I have little sympathy for him.
Also as someone here earlier said, 15 years old now and Jack still regards him as a child who needs protecting. That’s kind of strange if not downright creepy if you ask me. In my experience, kids who are overly sheltered like that turn out seriously screwed-up later in life. I’ve seen some 15-year-olds who are as mature as any adult. Though Jack has openly admitted that anyone under the age of 18 (and probably not even then considering his comments about the NIU shooting) cannot think for themselves.
No, Jack doesn’t really care about the Iraq war I think. Because contrary to what he once said about us, I think it’s Jack who’s the one who really doesn’t care about dead people.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:37 am
“Can you comprehend, Judge…”
“Can you comprehend that I have a right to write to the head of the ESRB…”
“Can you comprehend I have something beyond the concerns of your case?”
My my, doesn’t this sound familiar…
March 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am
@Orange Soda — I wouldn’t feel too badly for Jack. See, in his mind he’s “winning” and he has the Florida Bar and SCOFLA in his sights and all ready to utterly destroy them, become elevated to Lord and Emperor of All Florida and one day rule the world. If the man is delusional and believes he’s winning, he’s clearly not feeling sorry for himself, so why should you?
March 21st, 2008 at 8:22 am
Finally got to read this…wow, he can’t really make a point, can he? I guess what I’m wondering, is what was his defense? Is he claiming he’s innocent? Is he claiming the bar or judge moore set him up? Is he claiming video games set him up? Does he have a strategy at all or is he just trying to annoy them? I find myself wondering if he’s actually trying to defend himself or if he’s just using it as publicity for his points of view? I don’t see an answer to, “you shouldn’t convinct me because (insert reason)”
March 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am
The Florida Bar should just fax Thompson a good ol’ YOU’RE FIRED!!! in big letters …Just like in Back to the Future 2.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:49 am
This is pure entertainment.
Unfortunately, it is sad that this guy gives Christians a bad name. I do agree that he is probably just using the term to get attention, but not all Christians are so stubborn and extreme. Is it moral to force your morals on someone else?
March 21st, 2008 at 8:52 am
Given the sheer mass of volume of transcripts there are, I don’t think I’d want to slog through them in their entirety even if they were so provided. I’d just as soon read what GP has determined as the most relevant bits, and take them with a grain of salt when necessary.
Accusations from JT notwithstanding, thus far I can’t recall an instance in which GP abused its journalistic/editorial capacity to seriously twist a story.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:04 am
@Luke JJ
It’s not, but Thompson sadly respect and listen to only one person: himself.
Not even a Christian priest would make Thompson reconsider. Really, this judge is a saint. I admire her patience and tolerance.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am
@jadedcritic:
It’s the “just trying to annoy them” choice. Although “annoy” falls descriptively short. More like “harrass and humiliate”
One of the few things that Jack does well, as these transcript excerpts makes clear, is making life miserable for others. To use a timely figurative example, he’s banking on the Supremes, the Bar, the Referee, et al., putting greater value on their fax machines than they do on his disbarment. So, in essence, his “defense” is: “if you try to disbar me, I’ll kill your fax machines.” Non-figuratively speaking, just substitute “fax machines” for “personal and professional reputations.”
March 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am
@JDKJ: Pissing off everyone that might oppose him also seems to be a standard part of JT’s playbook. He can then claim that the opposition is based on emotional or personal feelings toward JT rather than laws and facts. It’s the basis of his repeated claims to get the judge to recuse herself - he claims that the judge is hostile towards him, without mentioning that the hostility is because JT disrespects the judge and her court. Apparently it also means that some people would rather simply let JT get away with his nonsense rather than have to actually deal with him any longer than need be.
(My apologies if the judge is actually a guy