I wish you could say it was a joke too. To me it is, but not a ha-ha kind of joke.

I told you. It’s hopeless.

Maybe they pick the most crooked lawyer each year. That would explain it.

This isn’t an award.
The person they talked to at the ABA likened Gonzo being “lawyer of the year” to Hitler being “man of the year” in Time Magazine. All this is saying is that of all the lawyers, Gonzo was in the news the most often - and then they even recognize that he was not in the news for good reasons, not because of his own merit, but rather because he is so terrible that he set a new historical marker for bad lawyers.

Yeah, it’s “Lawyer of the Year.” Not “Best Lawyer of the Year.”

And lawyers wonder why lawyers aren’t a respectable field.

They’ll probably say everyone deserves legal protection, and Gonzo did the best he could under the circumstances, and then fell on his own sword, but the image problem is still there.

Kind of like when Time magazine named Hitler Man of the Year.

An Onion Parody Magazine, Right?

OMG, I wish I had bought stock in Spit-Takes, Ltd. I had to dry off my monitor when I saw that headline…

So this must be rewriting history and creating your own reality huh?

Apparently, the ABA has lowered it’s standards just a wee bit.

Kinda brings color to that old joke: Why don’t sharks eat lawyers? Professional courtesy.

This is what “self-policing” gets you.

“The most important role of the ABA is its creation and maintenance of a code of ethical standards for lawyers. ” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....ssociation

Humbug!

DC Atty Disciplinary Board will, no doubt, drop all investigations. The precedent has been set. “No news here, m ove along.”

ysbaddaden: Nice catch on Hitler. Perhaps the DC Bar took notes from Time and Hitler. Time to put the spotlight on the lazy legal counsel behind these alleged war crimes.

Liar, Lawyer. Close enough.

John @ 11:

This is what “self-policing” gets you.

“The most important role of the ABA is its creation and maintenance of a code of ethical standards for lawyers. ” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....ssociation

Humbug!

ABA: What a cess pool, IMO. “Self policing”-ha! More like a self-protection racket. Just my opinion.

This is the same ABA that didn’t timely ensure there was an opinion on signing statements. How many years did it take for them to awaken from their coma?

Lawyers need oversight. They are not to be trusted. Gonzalez is the perfect case study and fair warning.

I wonder if I can make Engineer of the year by telling an advisory committee that I can’t remember anything I did.

It’s NOT an award. Gonzo definitely deserves this.

If you actually read it, you’ll discover that they are not commending Gonzales at all. Read up, people.

I know that this “award” isn’t meant to show that the ABA actually likes the person, but how long do you think it will be before someone on the right, when announcing Mr. Gonzalez, will refer to him as “The ABA’s lawyer of the year”?

Q: What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?

Icy @ 16:

I wonder if I can make Engineer of the year by telling an advisory committee that I can’t remember anything I did.

Well, by definition a lawyer has to lie. As such, Gonzo did his job admirably. Thus he deserves the award IMHO.

And Engineer’s job qualifications are different, so no dice….

http://www.abanet.org/abanet/m.....easeid=230

“Think about Time magazine’s Person of the Year,” Adams said in an interview. “In years past they’ve named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we’re not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word. We are saying they are the most newsworthy — and perhaps also the best.”

Ahhhhh I see Mr. Adams. Mr. Publisher In Chief. Your the decider. Hell Hitler and Stalin got the award. Just a couple of nice guys. Until after the Award at least.

Is there a movement of lawyers withdrawing their membership from the ABA? And if not, shouldn’t there be? I feel it is time to boycott such a travesty.

Gonzo: is there a place for me in heaven?
God: Hmm…I can’t recall…

The Dude @ 20:

Q: What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?

A: A good start!!

The Dude @ 20:

Q: What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?

Moby Pickle?

Q: What happens to Lawyers when they take viagra?

Well, clearly using their standards they would then have to name Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Vick “Quarterback of the Year”.

And did you see some of their 2007 Runners-Up?

Michael “I’ve-Been-Disbarred” Nifong

Lewis “I’m-A-Felon” “Scooter” Libby

Monica “I-Got-My-Law-Degree-From-A-Box-Of-Cracker-Jacks” Goodling

David “I-Can’t-Shred-Your-Constitution-Fast-Enough” Addington

I kid you not. Just go to the ABA website.

I’m going to dig around and see how this “award” is selected - and I hope the Hitler as Time’s “Man of the Year Award” is applicable.

So why leave this part out?

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams. “Think about Time magazine’s Person of the Year,” Adams said in an interview. “In years past they’ve named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we’re not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word.

Because that way, there’s no sensationalist story?

Nice try.

Listen, there are enough real crooks and liars out there without making things up.

So this isn’t because of what he accomplished but instead because he was in the news so much? Okay, then maybe I can see that. Kind of like Paris Hilton being lady of the year because she was in the news so much. Sort of a misleading title at best.

So the lawyer of 2008 was chosen because he’s cleaning up after the lawyer of 2007?

How about giving the title to John Dean? Oh, I forgot– he’s honest.

Alright let’s see. Election 08 which Candidate would I most like having a burger and a beer with.

Is that the secret?

The Dude @ 21:

Icy @ 16:

I wonder if I can make Engineer of the year by telling an advisory committee that I can’t remember anything I did.

Well, by definition a lawyer has to lie. As such, Gonzo did his job admirably. Thus he deserves the award IMHO.

And Engineer’s job qualifications are different, so no dice….

By definition? What definition are you quoting from? Websters? I haven’t ever seen one. As a lawyer, I take exception to that. Lawyer’s are supposed to present the facts in the best light possible for their client, but not to lie. There is a difference. But that said, it doesn’t do our profession any good when one of its governing bodies pulls a stunt like this by nominating the biggest liar of them all as its Lawyer of the Year. Alberto Gonzolez should be disbarred in my opinion. A move like that from the ABA would go a long way toward repairing some of the damage that has been done by Alberto and Co.

Mike @ 10:

Apparently, the ABA has lowered it’s standards just a wee bit.

Kinda brings color to that old joke: Why don’t sharks eat lawyers? Professional courtesy.

Still, I think it’s time for the ABA to put down the crack pipe.

Are you suffering from a serious irony shortage? This is obviously a joke.

Timelag @ 30:

So why leave this part out?

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams. “Think about Time magazine’s Person of the Year,” Adams said in an interview. “In years past they’ve named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we’re not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word.

Because that way, there’s no sensationalist story?

Nice try.

Listen, there are enough real crooks and liars out there without making things up.

Will the American public stop to think about it (or go shopping?). And what is the attention span of the average American public??

(hint)—> Did you say something??

IF he won I’d like to know who the runner-up is. Probably Scooter’s Attorney.

Next up:

‘Bush, president of the year’, then

‘Rice, secretary of the year, then

‘Cheney, vice of the year, then

‘Giuliani, ex-mayor of the year, then

‘Huckabee, huckabee of the year.

How do you feel about trusting your attorney’s judgment now?

Is this the ABA’s equivalent to the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

pissed off patricia @ 31:

So this isn’t because of what he accomplished but instead because he was in the news so much? Okay, then maybe I can see that. Kind of like Paris Hilton being lady of the year because she was in the news so much. Sort of a misleading title at best.

I take these “distinctions”- rather than “awards”- with a grain of salt. And if ya think of it as a distinction, who else, good or bad, was a distinctively more important lawyer this year.

And I wonder if this distinction is somethin’ that (former)AGAG will include on his resume(damn! what’s the HTML code fer accents?). I doubt it.

in case you’re wondering what the difference is between a dead skunk and a dead attorney on the highway, there’s a skid mark in front of the skunk

When Bush heard Alberto was getting an award from the American Bar Association, he said, ‘That dumb mexcan SOB don’t even drink, they should give the award to me’.

L.A. Confidential @ 33:

Alright let’s see. Election 08 which Candidate would I most like having a burger and a beer with.

Is that the secret?

Or is it it which candidate will make sure I have a steady and reliable supply of TeeVee and bad food?

pissed off patricia @ 31:

So this isn’t because of what he accomplished but instead because he was in the news so much? Okay, then maybe I can see that. Kind of like Paris Hilton being lady of the year because she was in the news so much. Sort of a misleading title at best.

Alberto is the Paris Hilton of the legal profession, she never passed a bar, either.

Timelag @ 30:

So why leave this part out?

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams. “Think about Time magazine’s Person of the Year,” Adams said in an interview. “In years past they’ve named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we’re not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word.

Because that way, there’s no sensationalist story?

Nice try.

Listen, there are enough real crooks and liars out there without making things up.

First of all, you got to wonder if this is some kind of record on how soon and how frequently the Godwin Law kicks in.

And secondly, the ABA’s own website (while not giving any parameters for meting out this “award”) only states:
“The list is meant to spark a lively debate.”

http://www.abajournal.com/maga....._2007_2008

If so, then clearly that banner Bush used on the USS Abraham Lincoln proclaiming “Mission Accomplished” could be recyled.

Preacher Boob @ 46:

pissed off patricia @ 31:

So this isn’t because of what he accomplished but instead because he was in the news so much? Okay, then maybe I can see that. Kind of like Paris Hilton being lady of the year because she was in the news so much. Sort of a misleading title at best.

Alberto is the Paris Hilton of the legal profession, she never passed a bar, either.

:lol:

Adam Franklin @ 34:

By definition? What definition are you quoting from? Websters? I haven’t ever seen one. As a lawyer, I take exception to that. Lawyer’s are supposed to present the facts in the best light possible for their client, but not to lie.

Right, in theory practice and theory are the same, in practice they are not.

I am not that naive… For example, most guilty verdicts are handed after the defense lawyer has done his/her job during the trial. Which implies that one of the parties during the trial was lying, even if it was via omission or under false pretenses. And as such, yeah… by definition a lawyer’s job implies lying; fact omission and perversion of pretenses is still uncomfortably close to lying.

So if the ABA Journal’s editors get fired, they can either become a helper for Gonzo in the lettuce patch, or function as a paralegal for one of Mukasey’s Regent University Attorney Generals.

dmhlt @ 47:

Timelag @ 30:

So why leave this part out?

The monthly magazine gave the awards to lawyers who made the most news, said editor and publisher Edward A. Adams. “Think about Time magazine’s Person of the Year,” Adams said in an interview. “In years past they’ve named people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin. So we’re not suggesting by these awards that these are the best lawyers in any sense of the word.

Because that way, there’s no sensationalist story?

Nice try.

Listen, there are enough real crooks and liars out there without making things up.

First of all, you got to wonder if this is some kind of record on how soon and how frequently the Godwin Law kicks in.

And secondly, the ABA’s own website (while not giving any parameters for meting out this “award”) only states:
“The list is meant to spark a lively debate.”

http://www.abajournal.com/maga....._2007_2008

If so, then clearly that banner Bush used on the USS Abraham Lincoln proclaiming “Mission Accomplished” could be recyled.

Maybe the grand finale for Junior will be jumbo cod piece exposure on his pops aircraft carrier. The USS George H.W. Bush
http://tinyurl.com/38mguu
http://tinyurl.com/23gczq

and they wonder why people dont like lawyers

The Dude @ 49:

Adam Franklin @ 34:

By definition? What definition are you quoting from? Websters? I haven’t ever seen one. As a lawyer, I take exception to that. Lawyer’s are supposed to present the facts in the best light possible for their client, but not to lie.

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