Lawyer-Bloggers in Trouble with Bar

Here's a New York Times article about lawyers who are getting into trouble with the Bar because of what they're posting on their blogs, tweeting or putting on their Facebook pages. "A Legal Battle: Online Attitude vs. Rules of the Bar." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13lawyers.html?hp

These sanctioned lawyers, it seems to me, just violated some common-sense rules. It should be obvious that you do not ask a judge for a trial continuance so you can attend a funeral, and then brag about your alcohol consumption on your Facebook page while neglecting to express any grief about your loss. The judge might be reading and then might not look at your next motion with favor. Plus, she might rat you out to your boss. (And why did that lawyer let the judge be a Facebook friend anyway?)

Also, don't reveal attorney-client confidences in your blog or anywhere else.

A final tip: Do not identify a judge by name and then call her an "Unfair, Evil, Witch" on your blog, even if she sets your trial one week from arraignment in order to force your client into waiving his right to a speedy trial. The proper phrase is "Distinguished Jurist of Breathtaking Brilliance," and if you ever read those words here you'll know exactly what I mean.