‘Jackass’ Court Fracas Spurs 1-Year Suspension Recommendation for Ex-DA
A Louisiana disciplinary board is recommending a suspension of a year and a day for a former district attorney accused of getting into a courtroom fracas with another lawyer.
The former Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Doug Greenburg is accused of calling opposing lawyer Anthony Lewis a “jackass,” prompting an in-kind response and a physical altercation. The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board is recommending the suspension for Greenburg and a public reprimand for Lewis, Houma Today reports. A hearing board had previously recommended a lesser punishment of a deferred 30-day suspension for Greenburg.
Houma Today reports the courtroom scuffle began when Greenburg accused Lewis of wrongdoing. Lewis retorted that the former district attorney was still trying to prosecute. Greenburg then spoke to the judge, referring to Lewis as “this jackass.” Houma Today examined the transcripts, and says this conversation followed:
Lewis: “Jackass?”
Greenburg: “Jackass.”
Lewis: “Your mother is a jackass.”
Witnesses later said Greenburg then grabbed Lewis’ lapel, and both men ended up on the courtroom floor. Greenburg was later convicted of simple battery for the incident.
“Having an officer of the court physically assaulting another during a hearing harkens back to the days of settling differences by duels and therefore undermines our system of civilized justice,” the disciplinary board said in its recommendation to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
