DA appeals after bar dismisses complaint filed against lawyers representing Bundy
Derrick DePledgeThe Daily Astorian
Published on May 24, 2016 4:33PM
Last changed on May 24, 2016 7:52PM
The Oregon State Bar on Tuesday dismissed an ethics complaint by Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis against the Eugene lawyers representing Ammon Bundy — who led the armed occupation at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon this year — finding that public comments by the attorneys did not influence an imminent fact-finding process.
Marquis claimed Mike Arnold and Lissa Casey sought to influence potential jurors in the federal case against Bundy through news conferences and videos, a “gross abuse” of the restrictions on attorneys from making prejudicial statements.
Marquis has appealed to the state bar’s general counsel. The district attorney argues that the state bar’s dismissal appears to be based on a finding that no judge was influenced by the attorneys’ comments, when his complaint centered on the impact on prospective jurors in the federal trial in September.
“I would submit these many comments were made for precisely that reason,” Marquis wrote in his appeal. “As repellent as the idea that much of this grandstanding is simply a play for publicity to increase the coffers of his law firm, that conduct has been determined to be part of an attorney’s First Amendment rights. The sole basis of my complaint is the issue of influencing potential jurors, who will be triers of fact” ...
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20160524/state-bar-dismisses-das-complaint-against-bundy-lawyers
