With Bar Complaints Filed, Lawyers Explain Bundy Approach
by John Sepulvado and Conrad Wilson OPB | Feb. 8, 2016 11:06 p.m. | Updated: Feb. 9, 2016 6:39 a.m.
http://www.opb.org/news/series/burn...plaints-filed-lawyers-explain-bundy-approach/
In response to a story reported by OPB, the Oregon State Bar has received two complaints about the actions of Ammon Bundys attorneys.
This complaint is at the earliest stage of the investigation, said Kateri Walsh, a spokeswoman with the Oregon State Bar.
Anyone can complain about anything, she said.
The complaints questioned whether Bundys Eugene-based attorneys, Lissa Casey and Mike Arnold, violated bar ethics when Casey visited the refuge last month.
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We entirely expected that people who disagree with Ammon would complain to the bar, due to politics or due to irresponsible reporting, Arnold said in a statement Monday.
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Portland-based legal ethics attorney Peter Jarvis, a partner at the firm Holland & Knight, said he would represent the Arnold law firm if the bar complaint process continues.
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The contact with Bundy was in the form of a letter, with the word advertising materials, prominently displayed, Jarvis said. It was delivered by [Arnold firm] lawyers at the site.
Both Jarvis and Arnold declined OPBs request for a copy of that letter, which both men described as an advertisement. However, Arnold read a portion of it to a reporter at the Oregonian.
The purpose of this letter is to request a meeting with you to discuss whether the attorneys of Arnold Law may be of any assistance to you on a pro bono basis in finding a resolution to the situation in Harney County, Oregon, the letter reportedly stated.
Remember when we heard Arnold talking on the phone with the four at the refuge? This snippet from the article mentions that. What I didn't know at the time we heard it was Arnold's actual connection to the attorney he got on the phone to talk with Sean.
Arnold did attempt to arrange legal counsel for the militants still inside the refuge late last month. He called militant David Fry and put him in contact with Portland attorney Wayne Mackeson.
Mackeson had represented Arnold in a 2008 Oregon State Bar hearing. Arnold was eventually reprimanded in that instance for providing alcohol to a minor after he had prosecuted her for driving under the influence.
The militants ultimately declined Mackesons services, and remain at the refuge.
Anyhow, as much as I think these attorneys are without ethics, I doubt anything will actually come of this.
There is more to the article.