Legal Commentary

The Disbarment of Fred Phelps

By Eugene Volokh

A commenter asked why Fred Phelps ? founder of the Phelpsian funeral picketing cult ? was disbarred. The answer is in State v. Phelps, 598 P.2d 180 (Kan. 1979) and In re Phelps, 459 P.2d 172 (Kan. 1969). The facts are long and not worth going into in detail (you can read them for yourselves if you?d like), but I like this summary from the first action:

Phelps has, by his conduct, shown that he does not have the proper concept of the obligations devolving upon an attorney requiring him to deal fairly and honorably with his clients, and enjoining him to demean himself in such manner as not to bring embarrassment to nor discredit upon his profession.

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).