The Florida Bar v. Bruce Jacobs
A veteran foreclosure defense attorney was found guilty of three violations of Bar Rule 4-8.2(a) for statements in appellate motions, a response to a prohibition petition, and a disqualification motion accusing judges of acting illegally, being 'traitors to the constitution,' and shielding banks for personal financial gain. The Supreme Court approved the guilt findings, rejected the referee's 90-day non-rehabilitative suspension and the Bar's request for two years, and imposed a 91-day rehabilitative suspension.
Key facts
- Bruce Jacobs, a veteran foreclosure defense attorney, made statements in appellate motions, a prohibition petition response, and a disqualification motion accusing judges of acting illegally, being 'traitors to the constitution,' and shielding banks for personal financial gain.
- The Florida Bar charged Jacobs with three violations of Bar Rule 4-8.2(a) for statements concerning judges' qualifications and integrity; a referee found him guilty and recommended a 90-day non-rehabilitative suspension, while the Bar requested two years.
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Why it matters
This is the Supreme Court's most recent word on how far zealous advocacy can go before it becomes a Rule 4-8.2(a) violation, and it reaffirms Ray's objective-basis test with a burden-shifting framework litigators should… — full analysis with a trial
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