The Michigan Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded an outspoken lawyer for “vulgar and crude” attacks against appeals court judges, whom he likened during radio appearances to Nazis. The court voted 4-3 to reprimand Geoffrey Fieger for twice appearing on Detroit-areas radio shows in 1999 and calling state Court of Appeals judges “jackasses” and other names. The judges had angered Fieger by overturning a $15 million medical malpractice judgment he had won.
Fieger — best known for defending assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian — also likened the judges to Adolph Hitler and other Nazis.
Fieger argued he and other lawyers have a First Amendment right to publicly criticize judges. The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board agreed in a 2004 ruling, but the grievance board that filed the complaint against Fieger appealed to the state’s high court.
In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Clifford Taylor concluded Fieger’s broadcast remarks were “nothing more than personal abuse.”
The dissent said Fieger’s speech was political and should be protected under the U.S. Constitution.
The Michigan Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded an outspoken lawyer for “vulgar and crude” attacks against appeals court judges, whom he likened during radio appearances to Nazis. The court voted 4-3 to reprimand Geoffrey Fieger for twice appearing on Detroit-areas radio shows in 1999 and calling state Court of Appeals judges “jackasses” and other names. The judges had angered Fieger by overturning a $15 million medical malpractice judgment he had won.
Fieger — best known for defending assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian — also likened the judges to Adolph Hitler and other Nazis.
Fieger argued he and other lawyers have a First Amendment right to publicly criticize judges. The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board agreed in a 2004 ruling, but the grievance board that filed the complaint against Fieger appealed to the state’s high court.
In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Clifford Taylor concluded Fieger’s broadcast remarks were “nothing more than personal abuse.”
The dissent said Fieger’s speech was political and should be protected under the U.S. Constitution.
The Michigan Supreme Court on Monday reprimanded an outspoken lawyer for “vulgar and crude” attacks against appeals court judges, whom he likened during radio appearances to Nazis. The court voted 4-3 to reprimand Geoffrey Fieger for twice appearing on Detroit-areas radio shows in 1999 and calling state Court of Appeals judges “jackasses” and other names. The judges had angered Fieger by overturning a $15 million medical malpractice judgment he had won.
Fieger — best known for defending assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian — also likened the judges to Adolph Hitler and other Nazis.
Fieger argued he and other lawyers have a First Amendment right to publicly criticize judges. The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board agreed in a 2004 ruling, but the grievance board that filed the complaint against Fieger appealed to the state’s high court.
In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Clifford Taylor concluded Fieger’s broadcast remarks were “nothing more than personal abuse.”
The dissent said Fieger’s speech was political and should be protected under the U.S. Constitution.
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