Question re Gonzales and what we the people can do.....Is disbarment an option?

[percussivemadness]

OK...Simple solution to the Gonzales problem, as Pelosi seems content to betray us all...

DU lawyers please answer this if poss....

Gonzales is the Attorney General...He works for us, therefore we are his clients.

Can`t we the people bring some kind of action to get him disbarred, thus nullifying his position and forcing him to resign. I checked the ABA site for grounds for disbarment, and it appears that Gonzales has gone way over the line, even allowing for the generous attorney protections that the ABA allow.

We can`t rely on Pelosi, but surely we can bring a mass complaint to the ABA or the state that Gonzales obtains his Bar number from.

Just an idea, but the events of last weekend prove that the only people who are going to sort this mess out are we the people, Pelosi needs to be impeached, along with the rest of them for lying to the voters.

Is this feasible?

Peace

[Hydra]

1. I supposed anything is feasable

But who is blackmail proof?

That was one of the reasons for the FISA gutting. Most of this stuff wasn't admissible in court- now it is.

I foresee a great chilling effect in the next few months. Except for a few loons like me, you're ot gonna see much talking.

[grasswire]

2. the wingnuts had Clinton disbarred

To what bar association does Gonzales belong? Texas?

The Scaife-funded convicted sexual pervert Matt Glavin headed up the effort to disbar Bill Clinton, in Arkansas.

[Seabiscuit]

4. Are you sure about that?

What were the grounds? He was never convicted of any felony, including perjury.

[grasswire]

6. his law license was suspended for five years

You can read more about it here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10904831/

[Seabiscuit]

12. OK, I'll read it later. Gotta go now.

[Seabiscuit]

18. I just read the article, and it's poorly written, confusing "disbarment" with "suspension".

It appears Clinton voluntarily agreed to a suspension of his law license for 5 years (which is *not* a disbarment by the Arkansas bar) as part of a settlement of a criminal investigation he entered into with the special prosecutor of the Whitewater investigation over alleged crimes he had committed, and/or to settle an action against him brought by the state bar's professional committee - the article confuses and conflates the two matters, so it's not clear who he was settling what with- and did so to avoid having to answer 42 questions including 3 about whether he lied under oath in the Lewinsky matter (brought by the same team of special prosecutors, begun with Ken Starr).

A suspension may be either imposed by the state bar or be voluntary in settling a case involving criminal charges. In this case it appears Clinton agreed to a suspension for a specified term, 5 years. Even when voluntary, most suspensions result in an automatic reinstatement of the license after a set period of time. In this unusual case Clinton would have to reapply - his license isn't automatically reinstated.

A disbarment is imposed by the state bar and is not voluntary at all - and is a complete revocation of a lawyer's license, generally permanent. I've never heard of a disbarred lawyer being able to apply for reinstatement in 5 years. The article unfortunately uses the word "suspension" several times but also uses the word "disbar" in one sentence, unfortunately obscuring the facts about what really happened. To find out what really happened with the Arkansas bar, someone would have to do some research of state bar records there and possibly pay a fee to get the information.

It sounds like this was a very unusual case, in any event.

[Seabiscuit]

3. Until Gonzo is convicted of a felony in a court of law, the Texas Bar will not disbar him.

That's just a basic bar rule in any state. Only State Bars can "disbar" attorneys. Not the ABA.

But don't hold your breath. This Congress made up of obstructionist Repukes and spineless dems will never get a special prosecutor/grand jury to indict Gonzo of perjury, although he's guilty as sin as we and they all know. Despite all the public wailing and speechifying (which is about all they're good for any more).

Scooter Libby, for instance, was convicted by a court of law of perjury and obstruction of justice, both felonies. Undoubtedly he has or will be disbarred soon, by the bar of whatever State he's from, if it hasn't happend already regardless of Bush's commutation of his prison sentence. Don't county on the MSM to give us a heads up about that.

Yes, I'm a lawyer. And if I wasn't, I'd probably be an expatriot.

[percussivemadness]

5. TY...I know a lot of attorneys and they all despise what Gonzo is doing...

Ironic that it will ultimately be attorneys that either save or destroy this great country...

My money is on the good guys like you Sea :)

Peace

[Seabiscuit]

8. Thanks. As I said...

if I weren't an attorney I'd probably be an expatriot. 90% of our cherished heritage may be lost, but until it hits 100%, I'm not leaving.

Because I am an attorney, I'm willing to fight tooth and nail to preserve the principles the Founding Fathers ensconced in our Constitution, including the principle that for democracy to survive, it must remain a government of laws, not men. If it comes down France or "rendition" to Syria, I'll chose France before they get their putrid paws on me. Besides, I love France. That's where I spent 5 years in my 20's and also where I spent my honeymoon.

Remember, Nixon and his evil cronies in his White House were mostly attorneys.

But the good guy attorneys took him down.

[napi21]

7. That's true, but what abput admonishment?

Many attorneys are admonished by the bar for their actions. I realize that still allows him to be an attorney, but the bad publicity is another stab in his and Shrubs reputation....if either has a reputation to be deminished anymore!

[Seabiscuit]

10. There are several forms of admonishment, both public and private, but

admonishments are only issued by state bars, not the ABA, and do not constitute "disbarments". Disbarment means an attorney is no longer allowed to practice law. Period. If Gonzo were disbarred he would be forced by law to step down.

State bars only listen to complaints from actual clients (generally in private practice). They don't listen to complaints from ordinary citizens about attorney generals.

In order to get Gonzo, we need a Congress willing to get him indicted by a grand jury and convicted by a court of law.

Sadly, it ain't gonna happen, IMHO.

[zabet]

9. If, in fact, the AG works for the people,

anyone can file an ethics complaint with the state bar association
for the state he is licensed in.

[Seabiscuit]

11. Unfortunately, state bars only listen to ethics complaints from actual clients.

They don't entertain ethics complaints from the general public about public officials.

They also listen, of course, to judges who convict attorneys of felonies, whether the attorney in question is the U.S. Attorney General or not.

[zabet]

13. And We, the people are not technically the AG's clients?

He is a representative of the people.

[Seabiscuit]

15. Sorry, but it doesn't really work that way.

[zabet]

14. If nothing else...

how about a 'malfeasance of office' charge?

[Seabiscuit]

16. I guess what I'm trying to say is...

the idea of our complaining to the Texas Bar about Gonzo just ain't gonna accomplish squat.

I don't like saying that, but it's unfortunately true.

We need a Congress willing to uphold their oaths of office to uphold the Constitution. We don't have such a Congress yet.

It's political.

[zabet]

17. Awww heck. n/t