"Law Societies are the most powerful trade unions in the world" ..... Joseph Dowling

Good Day Readers:

This posting was inspired by an article that appeared in yesterday's Toronto Star (An Ontario lawyer has been convicted of possessing child pornography and given permission to resign from his profession - Tracey Tyler). Ontario Justice Louise Botham granted a publication ban in a criminal proceeding making it virtually impossible to gather any information, in effect, a modern day throw back to the Star Chambers of the Middle Ages when trials were held in complete secrecy.

The first time we encountered Law Societies described as the world's most powerful trade unions was in the case of Joseph Dowling. What the write up below neglects to mention was at one point he became so frustrated he visited the office of the law firm with which he was having an ongoing dispute punched out one of its windows before stealing the exterior building sign from the London offices of the Law Society.

The video below demonstrates the power of Bar Associations in the United States suggesting Mr. Dowling's description is indeed appropriate. One must certainly admire Dr. Richard Fine for having the cojones to take on California's legal establishment!

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
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Bomb hoax pensioner jailed
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

A 69-year-old retired businessman has been jailed for 15 months for a bomb hoax which brought central London to a standstill.
Joseph Dowling, of Broom Hall, Broom in Bedfordshire created widespread panic when pictures on his camper van, parked outside the Law Society's offices in Chancery Lane, suggested it contained a bomb.

Dowling refused to leave the van and said he would detonate the bomb if there was any attempt to remove him.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard that, following a 28-hour stand off involving hundreds of police Dowling, finally left the van with the "bomb" - a simple power adapter.

"You wanted to be caught red-handed to draw attention to your case and for that you must go to prison" ..... Judge George Bathurst-Norman

Dowling parked in Chancery Lane on 10 January and waited for someone to spot the picture of the explosion on the van.

The note on the van read: "If I am forced to move in any way I will set two time switches, one at 10 seconds and the other at 15 seconds and leave the vehicle in haste."

Dowling had taken the action to try to highlight a long-running legal dispute with Bedfordshire law firm Leeds Day.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman said he had no doubt that Dowling honestly and genuinely believed he had been "fobbed off" by the Law Society following his complaint about the firm of solicitors and a matter involving just over £587.

'Considerable ability'

"You wanted to be caught red-handed to draw attention to your case and for that you must go to prison," he said.

After the hoax and Dowling's arrest, the Law Society had acknowledged the solicitors were in error.

Ben Summers, prosecuting, said: "The Commissioner's reserves for the whole of London were called in, as was a terrorist support unit and mounted police officers.

"Lighting and CCTV were put in place to monitor the situation.

"There were explosives officers, a hostage negotiating team, specialist firearms officers and firearms dogs on the scene, along with anti-terrorist branch officers, two ambulances and two fully equipped fire engines."

The judge said he gave Dowling full credit for his age, his previous "impeccable" character and the fact he was clearly a "highly regarded" person of "very, very considerable ability".