Attorney Misconduct, Legal Ethics

Lawyer Hit With Disciplinary Charges For Comparing Judges To Monica Lewinsky, Bragging About His Farts

He allegedly wrote in a motion that his farts contain "more integrity and legal competence than is possessed by all the [judges] on this panel combined."

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Sometimes pro se litigants submit amazing court filings that lawyers only wish they could get away with. And sometimes lawyers submit amazing court filings that not even pro se litigants could get away with.

An ethics complaint filed against North Carolina lawyer Michael J. Anderson contains some striking allegations. From the complaint (via Legal Profession Blog, all emphases added by me):

In his 30 April 2015 Motion to Dismiss Appeal, Defendant made the following statements: ….

b. “It would appear that the instant panel [of judges] will glad [sic] play thee [sic]…. historical role played by Monica Lewinsky for President Clinton for the current governor of North Carolina.” (p. 4)

Poor Monica Lewinsky. She just wants to move on with her life, but random lawyers in North Carolina insist on keeping her (going) down.

But that’s not even the worst statement that Anderson stands accused of making:

c. “At this point, I’m convinced that with the passing of each so-called ‘fart’ I dispense more integrity and legal competence than is possessed by all the folks on this panel combined and, if these judges are intent upon making the North Carolina Court of Appeals a literal ‘whippin’ boy’ for special interests, they are welcome to kiss my red white and blue American made ass.”

Professor Michael Frisch notes a few more gems over at Legal Profession Blog:

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[Anderson] is alleged to have made a number of statements in the pleadings, accusing the court of “overwhelming incompetence and ignorance… I felt just as I imagine I would have over a century ago arguing to said court that slavery was bad labor relations policy… [the court showed] a stubborn arrogance and ignorance… [a judge] literally threw a temper tantrum… As I felt like I was attempting to teach physics to a class of unruly third graders.”

In another brief: “the lack of intellectual functioning and overt partiality of this panel… being readily apparent but, acting like mentally challenged cheerleaders, knowing they wanted to motivate their team to victory, but not sure how to accomplish the goal… [the judge] was assuming the role of ‘house negro’ for purposes of this matter… Sounding more like ‘Beaver Cleaver’ than any person has a right to…”

These alleged statements, impressively enough, fall under just one count of a three-count complaint. Michael J. Anderson also stands accused of failing to respond to a prior disciplinary inquiry (count 1) and committing trust account violations (count 2).

Perhaps he can respond to this latest complaint with one of his aforementioned farts, redolent of “integrity and legal competence.”

A Way With Words [Legal Profession Blog]
North Carolina State Bar v. Michael J. Anderson: Complaint [North Carolina State Bar]

Earlier: Pro Se Defendant Writes The Answer Every Lawyer Wishes They Could

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