Sometimes it's hard to keep the law civil. But when you feel your temper rising, resist the urge to call opposing counsel a "jackass." And if opposing counsel calls you a jackass, resist the urge to retort by calling his mother a jackass.

Two Louisiana lawyers, Douglas H. Greenburg and Anthony P. Lewis, did not heed this advice, and now they've been reprimanded by the state attorney discipline board. Debra Cassens Weiss reports on the reprimand in the ABA Journal:

Greenburg is the former district attorney of Terrebonne Parish, according to a story published by the Courier at the time of the incident. Lewis had a private practice and was also an assistant district attorney in Lafourche Parish, the story said.

Lewis told the publication that he and Greenburg have a "long-standing mutual dislike" based on disagreements over each others’ manner of trial practice.

Lewis told the Courier that the incident began when Greenburg accused him of wrongdoing. Lewis retorted that Greenburg was still trying to prosecute, prompting Greenburg's jackass comment and Lewis' jackass retort, he said. At that point, Lewis said, Greenburg lunged at him, grabbed his lapel and knocked him over, causing a temporary blackout. Greenburg told police he grabbed Lewis' collar but he did not push him, the story says.

It seems like it's always the boy attorneys who lock horns in court. When is someone going to send us a good courthouse catfight story?

Reprimand Recommended for Lawyers Who Fought After Trading ‘Jackass’ Barbs [ABA Journal]