Geoffrey Fieger Appealing Michigan Supreme Court Verdict

Attorney Geoffrey Fieger is appealing a Michigan Supreme Court opinion that found his remarks directed at a panel of appellate court judges and delivered during a radio show were deserving of a reprimand. After the appellate court overturned a jury verdict for Mr. Fieger’s client, he made certain statements about the judges, including that they were “jackasses.” Complaints were filed with the Attorney Discipline Board of Michigan. A majority of the Board  decided that the rules were in violation of the First Amendment; a different majority decided that the rules applied to Mr. Fieger’s comments. The Board asked the Supreme Court to decide the issue.

The Court decided among other things that Mr. Fieger made the remarks before the case was completed, allowing lawyers’ speech to be more regulated during an on-going case than after it is completed; that the rules apply to comments toward the tribunal outside as well as inside the courtroom, contrary to Mr. Fieger’s assertion that they apply only to comments inside the courtroom; that the ADB has no power to declare the rules unconstitutional; and that the the rules are not unconstitutionally vague. Read the entire opinion here.

Mr. Fieger’s attorney has provided me with a copy of the c