Disbarment
Jack Thompson, the Florida lawyer noted for his activism against video games, rap music, and Howard Stern was permanently disbarred for various charges of misconduct. The action was the result of several grievances claiming that Thompson had made defamatory, false statements and attempted to humiliate, embarrass, harass or intimidate his opponents. The order was made on September 25, 2008, effective October 25. However, Thompson attempted to appeal to the higher courts in order to avoid the penalty actually taking effect. Neither the US District court, nor the US Supreme Court would hear his appeal, rendering the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court final.
Jackie Thompson
Thompson remained close to Adair who gave him the title of "Provost Marshal", a role which effectively gave him control over knee-cappings and other acts of extrajudicial punishment in the Shankill area. With the Brigadier's blessing, Thompson even kneecapped Jonathan "Mad Pup" Adair in August 2002, after the 17-year-old had burgled a local pensioner's house and punched a female worker in a Crumlin Road shop. In September of that year Thompson, along with James "Sham" Millar, accompanied an armed Adair to a meeting of the UDA brigadiers at which he was questioned about his role in the attempted killing of East Belfast brigadier Jim Gray. Adair would be expelled from the UDA soon after this meeting and he declared the West Belfast Brigade fully autonomous. Thompson remained a loyal cohort of Adair's and at his behest led a punishment squad to attack UDA veteran Milton Dodds after he had criticised what he felt was the harsh treatment of his cousin William Mullan, whom Adair had ordered out of Northern Ireland because of alleged links to his rivals the Shoukri brothers. Milton Dodds' brother William "Winkie" Dodds, one of Adair's oldest allies, moved to the Whitewell Road and placed himself under the protection of the UDA South East Antrim Brigade in response to Thompson's attack on his brother.