Jack Thompson (activist)
On July 8, 2008, Judge Tunis recommended permanent disbarment and a $43,675.35 fine for Thompson to the Florida Supreme Court, citing "cumulative misconduct, a repeated pattern of behavior relentlessly forced upon numerous unconnected individuals, a total lack of remorse or even slight acknowledgment of inappropriate conduct, and continued behavior consistent with the previous public reprimand... Over a very extended period of time involving a number of totally unrelated cases and individuals, the Respondent has demonstrated a pattern of conduct to strike out harshly, extensively, repeatedly and willfully to simply try to bring as much difficulty, distraction and anguish to those he considers in opposition to his causes... He does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose him." The court approved the recommendation and fine on September 25, 2008, and ordered that Thompson be permanently disbarred effective 30 days from the date of the order so Thompson could close out his practice. He later filed for an emergency stay of the Florida Supreme Court's order with the U.S. District Court, which was ultimately denied. In an e-mail to media outlets, Thompson responded to the court's decision by stating, "The timing of this disbarment transparently reveals its motivation: This past Friday Thompson filed a federal civil rights action against The Bar, the Supreme Court, and all seven of its Justices. This rush to disbarment is in retribution for the filing of that federal suit. With enemies this foolish, Thompson needs only the loyal friends he has." He closed the email—in which he included the court ruling—with, "...this should be fun, starting now".
Lucas P. Thompson
After finishing his education, and perhaps reading law with his elder brother James Powell Thompson (1792-1882, who moved to Tennessee), Thompson moved to Amherst County, Virginia and practiced law, as well as served several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, two alongside William M. Waller and later with Samuel M. Garland. Voters of Albemarle, Amherst, Nelson, Fluvanna and Goochland counties elected Thompson as one of their four delegates to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830, alongside James Pleasants, William F. Gordon and Thomas Massie Jr.
Following that Constitution's ratification, the Virginia General Assembly elected Thompson as a county judge in Staunton, Virginia and he succeeded Archibald Stuart in 1831. He served on that court for many years, and was re-elected to that post by the legislature. After the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850, the county court was reconstituted as the 11th circuit court, and Thompson also elected to that position (and re-elected many times). Before the conflict, Judge Thompson operated a private law school (1839-1849), mostly at the mansion, "Hilltop", he built in Staunton in 1842.
He remained in office during the American Civil War, although he despised Abraham Lincoln. His son John Baker Thompson (1834-1862) died at the Battle of Shiloh. His nephew John Lucas Thompson (1833-1866) captained Company C of the 16th Tennessee Infantry and barely survived the war.