What happened when Fultondale attorney Greg Morris called the Alabama State Bar to ask a question about an affidavit he was preparing for our pending federal "Jail Case"? Without intending to, Morris might have unearthed the most clear-cut evidence yet of the corruption that has turned Alabama's "justice system" into an ethical sewer. The evidence suggests much of that corruption -- maybe all of it -- originates with the state bar itself.Who made the statements that point to improper, maybe criminal, interference in our case? That remains unclear, but it was one of three assistant general counsels in the bar's "Center for Professional Responsibility" -- Jeremy McIntire, Tripp Vickers, and Mark Moody.
Morris states that he is "75 to 80 percent" sure he spoke with McIntire. Douglas McElvy, who was acting general counsel at the time, told me in a phone conversation that ethics questions almost always to go to him or Vickers -- and he suggested that Morris almost certainly spoke to Vickers.
The bar recently announced that Judge Roman Shaul has been named full-time general counsel, so McElvy likely will be hitting the exits soon and never will conduct the investigation he promised. We intend to give Shaul an opportunity to examine the ugliness that resides in the office he inherited -- and probably has been there for years.
It's not clear Morris had an ethics question, and I'm still not sure why Morris even called the state bar about a straightforward affidavit that was to show we had asked him to represent us at a Rule 26 meeting in "The Jail Case" -- and neither he, nor Carol or I, had done anything to violate U.S. Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins orders. In fact, all three of us had been the victims of Hopkins' unlawful rulings and/or verbal abuse. Had Hopkins not berated Morris when he appeared at the meeting -- and then threatened us with sanctions -- Morris never would have had a reason to prepare an affidavit or call the state bar.
Roman Shaul
But when Morris placed the call, he got quite an ear full from the "counsel" on the other end -- be it McIntire or Vickers. Here is a summary of the message Morris received from someone supposedly involved with "ethics" related to Alabama court rooms:* Do not file an affidavit in the Shuler case;
* If you do file an affidavit, it's likely to make matters worse;
* Tell Roger, "No, you do not have permission to proceed.You stay away from that";
* If the judge wants to hear from you, she will let you know;
* Do not get any further involved. You are not helping yourself, and you likely are not helping Mr. Shuler.
That last one sounds an awful lot like a threat, to harm Morris or his law practice. We assume that would be harm in a professional sense, but given the nastiness at the heart of Alabama's "justice" system -- and sources tell us that the hideously corrupt Jeff Sessions and Riley Inc. (former Gov. Bob Riley, son Rob "Uday" Riley and Co.) have unusual sway at the state bar -- who knows what form such a threat could take?
This much is certain: We have Greg Morris' statement in a word-for-word format, and it clearly suggests unlawful behavior that could point to a RICO case -- civil, criminal, or both.
It's almost as if obstruction of justice has become the new favored pastime in Alabama, surpassing even college football.
(To be continued)
