The commentators above have hit the nail on the head. It might seem minor, but Ms. Thompson could have stated something like “This article is solely meant as an informative piece about Mr. Jones’ interesting history. TPM makes no assertion that Mr. Jones’ current or previous representations should cast aspersions on his character or be deemed to represent his own personal views.”
You could make the argument that this is unnecessary, but with all the recent attacks on attorneys for simply doing their jobs, it wouldn’t hurt to be clear. Kind of like how lots of public figures now put “follows and retweets are not endorsements” on Twitter. Unnecessary? Maybe, but I get why people do it.
Maybe a little off topic, but I doubt this guy is working pro bono. The national frat is probably picking up the tab.
When i hear of cases involving college kids, I’m reminded that my generation went to college just before Gideon v Wainwright became the law of the land.
I was Goody Two Shoes at that age in large part because I knew my parents could never afford a lawyer.
Ditto for most of my buddies who also came from blue collar homes.
I’m not sure what the point of this article was supposed to be, but mr. jones comes across as the kind of attorney I want to represent me, should I find myself in need of legal help. he has zealously represented his clients, which is what an attorney is supposed to do. his politics are irrelevant.
I do not recall… has their been any actual formal charges filed against the fraternity? This article did not imply that they require a defense attorney, but the comments seem slanted toward the hiring of Jones for that reason.
The point of the article is that Stephen Jones and David Boren have a history. Jones’ record against Boren is not very good. If the case goes forward two old rivals will go head to head once again. Jones will defend SAE’s right to sing racist songs and Boren will take the position that singing racist songs violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
If I’m not mistaken the eviction notice informed them they could appeal the decision and that fulfills the due process requirement. Boren said he hopes they just leave rather than fight.
I took the point of the article to be that there are complexities to this issue as there are to many. As for the history between David Boren and Stephen Jones - I would hope that they are mature enough to disagree without making it personal and all about them…If you read the article in the Norman Transcript, you’ll see that they don’t disagree as to the disgusting, stupid nature of what was seen in the video - they just disagree as to how it should have been handled.
“If I’m not mistaken the eviction notice informed them they could appeal the decision… .” Now, there is an article worth forcing a reporter out of her chair and out into the real world to pound the pavement, interview witnesses, and maybe sojourn into a library to learn a little about the Constitution of the United States which – not incidentally – protects her rights as a reporter to write any drivel she’s driven to scribble.
Note to Catherine:
(1) Going back 50 years or more there have been several fraternities kicked off campuses for racist, sexist, or incredibly boorish behavior. Check it out. How many were offered a hearing?
(2) You know that cell phone-thingy in your purse? If you’re too lazy or stupid to research it on your own, it will connect you to lawyers and law professors who can tell you what the due process clause has to say about pre- and post-deprivation hearings and when or the other is required. Try it some time.
I read that link and the first comment makes the point that the national organization pulled SAE’s charter. Jones might have a case regarding the expulsions of the two individuals but he’s talking like he wants SAE restored at OU. That makes me wonder if the frat brothers contacted Jones or if he contacted them?
Please point out in this article exactly where TPM “called out” the attorney? You’re reading something that’s not there.
Actually, he does sound very interesting. Though, I can’t endorse any of his moral stances, he has the courage to represent the unpopular clients. Everyone deserves a legal defense. That’s why we have Miranda. And I can’t bring myself to judge this guy.
That’s an interesting point - I don’t know. I had assumed SAE contacted him but I suppose an attorney can choose to to get involved in something they themselves find interesting…Bottom line for me is I hope this can finally bring about a very necessary conversation and some resolution can be found to racial divides…I honestly feel like expelling the students without at least asking - “what the heck were you thinking with that song??” is kind of like sweeping it all under the rug. It gives everyone a pass to just quietly move back to their opposing positions and nothing is resolved. I also believe strongly in redemption - a second chance to get it right. I could be wrong because I can also understand the university president’s position but I just don’t see how this solves the underlying misunderstanding that seems to keep popping up all over.
Jones is also a Republican donor if you haven’t already guessed and comes from one of many fairely racist parts of the state who seems to forget the SAE Chapter was banned by the National SAE who are reported to be livid with this Corp Board of the local SAE who basically have no standing. There are only two maybe three of the original fraternities at OU who own their houses and the land. SAE is not one of them. Many of the other fraternities have heard racist comments out of SAE’s before toward some of their members including the fraternity near them as my son was President of the fraternity they called some members racist names as their house backed up to my son’s parking lot. When you have a House Mom chanting along on video the “N” word with the fraternity, you have a real problem. The shyster thinks President Boren is going to be afraid of him – calls for one of those Please Proceed moments. The former Governor, Senator, and now OU President is a lawyer raised money to build new Law School facilities (awesome by the way) that houses a District Court. Yet the lowlife ambulance chaser thinks taking on OU’s President along with faculty, staff, and students along with the Athletes and athletic coaches, AD, and staff and national SAE’s is a smart move? Not even close. SAE’s got the message they will not be back on campus – this is not the first instance of problems with SAE just the final straw. Jones needs to go back home and stay out of Norman – never liked the man after hearing him speak once – enought for me.
Why shouldn’t people know that he represented Timothy McVeigh and did everything he could to get the lowlife scumbag off and then says afterwards some mean things about McVeigh. He loves the spotlight, donatinig to GOP nutcases here, and defends despicable cases by rushing in to be the attorney of record. Excuse me but McVeigh killed men, women, and children, was former KKK, member of the militia who didn’t deserve to be represented by anyone other then a court appointed lawyer IMHO! It would have been a lot cheaper for the taxpayer.
Now the lowlife says he is going to sue for people who have no legal standing – cannot wait until all the racism of that fraternithy is brought out in the open along with their Plantation Ball that President Boren stopped. Racism has no place on OU and if someone doesn’t like it, move on. It is hate speech and you can bet the legal scholars and constitutional lawyers already weighed in before President Boren who is a lawyer took the first step althought the National SAE banned the chapter before Pres Boren said a thing. President Boren when they built the new facilities for OU also was able to secure a District Court there.
Jones can shove it in my book – he is a grandstander, loves the limelight, and frankly will end up on the losing side while costing us donors and taxpayers money that could better be spent on education. Is he going to sue the National SAE as well? This is pure spite because President Boren handed him his hat in the 1990 Senate race.
Well, people charged with a crime deserve the best defense they can afford. That’s the way the system works. I’ve been watching “The Jinx” on HBO and if I ever need to get away with murder I want Dick DeGuerin to represent me.
Maybe Stephen Jones seeks out these unpopular clients to prove a point about our justice system?
I think the National SAE wants a much distance as possible because they don’t want the OU lawyers digging up a bunch of racist dirt which will definitely happen if Jones presses forward. Defending the individuals on the expulsions is a different matter.
Now I don’t know that much about Stephen Jones so please take this question as an attempt to learn on my part…You refer to him as a “grandstander, loves the limelight, etc…” Also that it’s pure spite over a past loss politically. Do you have some unbiased source that corroborates this because it seems pretty obvious that you very much dislike him and I’d like to know how you came to feel this way…
I live in OK, and have clashed directly with Jones (when he was McVeigh’s attorney). He has a long history of what I consider to be unethical tactics (I clashed with him specifically because of something he was doing at the time) and for what it’s worth (It could have been point #6) he is roundly unpopular in Oklahoma, despite being conservative and Republican. Sure, a lot of that had to do with working for an infamous mass murderer client. However, many people who know him, don’t agree with the way he went about the case. I sure don’t. Being already familiar with him, my question is, why, of all people, in a racism case (SAE) would you choose the defender of America’s most infamous racist mass murderer to represent you?
