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California attorney Marla Anne Brown is facing disciplinary actions for statements she allegedly made over social media. The State Bar of California’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) announced the charges for violations of the California Business and Professions Code and Rules of Professional Conduct in May of 2020. According to the OCTC, at that time, Brown used her Twitter handle @SoCalMAB (now a defunct handle) to incite violence against individuals protesting the murder of George Floyd.
For example, when a Twitter user shared this message about protests in the Los Angeles area, “Heads up LA protesters at #Fairfax and #lacienega, the Venice/La Brea police department just sent about 20 cars over, blocking traffic, traveling fast. Stay safe,” Brown allegedly responded, “Shoot the protesters.”
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In another exchange, when Congressman Lee Zeldon announced that the Speaker of the House had canceled a legislative session, a Twitter user responded, “DC is about to. Get overrun by Antifa. Get out.” Brown is accused of replying to that message with, “Can’t wait. At least a reason to shoot them.”
In response to Donald Trump’s infamous May 28, 2020 tweet (remember he tweeted, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”), Brown is alleged to have responded, “They need to be shot.”
Additionally, she allegedly tweeted at MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough “… Let’s go burn your house down with you in it.”
Brown is also facing allegations she falsely claimed to be a “LAPD union attorney” in her Twitter bio.
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George Cardona, Chief Trial Counsel, made the following statement about the charges, “While the First Amendment establishes a broad right to free speech, no one has the right to incite violence. For California attorneys, reckless actions like these violate their oath and duties as licensees.”
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].