If you were a criminal defense attorney serving as a pro tem judge in Las Vegas, or anywhere for that matter, do you think you would have the time, or even the desire, to have a MySpace page? And if you did have a MySpace page, do you think it would be wise to list "breaking my foot off in a prosecutor's ass" as one of your interests? You probably answered no to at least one of the previous questions, but Jonathan MacArthur (seen left, in his trying-hard-to-be-artsy, half-face photo from MySpace) allegedly answered yes to both and now he is out of a job.
The 34-year-old criminal defense attorney in North Las Vegas was fired recently, after his MySpace page was found by Clark County District Attorney David Roger. After finding the page, Roger faxed a copy to court administrator Terri March, informing her that he would file a motion to recuse MacArthur from his role as substitute judge if the court didn't cut him first. Before you know it, MacArthur was unsurprisingly fired.
In addition to his "foot-in-the-ass" comment, MacArthur's MySpace page also, according to the Associated Press story, laid out his attitude towards prosecutors using a certain graphic phrase that he claimed was common "among blacks, people who associate with blacks or in a sports context."
Using the, "people who know me..." defense, MacArthur said his comments were obviously just overstated for the effect. Even better, MacArthur said he is still planning to run for a job with the new judicial department that opens in North Las Vegas in 2009. Maybe this whole Internet thing will be over with by then.
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1. It's unfortunate that this blog used only the RJ article as its reference for the conclusions drawn herein. Good social commentary flourishes when accompanied by a healthy amount of skepticism.
The statements I made online about prosecutors was in reference to a particular case, several months before I was appointed as a judge pro tem.
Despite statements to the contrary, I wasn't fired. And while it remains likely that I won't be invited to substitute in that court again, my pro tem appointment remains quite active.
Lastly, if frank and contemporaneous commentary is an objectionable trait in people that hope to become statesmen sometime in the future, don't expect the people we elect instead to inspire us with their candor or integrity.
I'm not above taking some directed criticism on the chin, but watching people digest the political pablum provided by the RJ (and regurgitated here) is just bad comedy.
I attempt to promote the same type of online dialogue that you do Mr. Jenkins. But perhaps with fewer pejoratives.
Jonathan
Jonathan E. MacArthur at 1:46PM on Aug 24th 2007