Beauregard says ‘I’ve been silenced’ after judge’s order
May 4, 2017, 1:55 PM | Updated: 5:11 pm
Attorney Lincoln Beauregard (left). (Contributed)
(Contributed)
Citing ethics violations, a King County Superior Court Judge fined attorney Lincoln Beauregard on Thursday for how he was using the court filing system. Beauregard has responded by saying he will respect the judge’s decision, but that he has been silenced.
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“We really, really respect the judge’s ruling, even though we disagree with it,” Beauregard said.
Beauregard represents Delvon Heckard, the man accusing Seattle’s mayor of sexual abuse. He has often been open with the media. Jim Brunner with The Seattle Times reports the judge called violations by Lincoln Beauregard “flagrant.” The judge warned Beauregard that he would take away his ability to file if he continued in this manner and fined him $5,000.
Beauregard “silenced”
Beauregard could appeal, but he will wait until after the case against Mayor Ed Murray is over, KIRO 7’s Essex Porter reports. Beauregard told KIRO Radio that he will pay the fine “in the interest of justice” as he continues to fight the case, but he declined to discuss the case further beyond that.
“I don’t think I can actually comment, because I think the judge’s order effectively says I’m not supposed to talk to the media,” Beauregard told KIRO Radio. “I’d love to be able to elaborate. The ruling to me left it to where, I guess, we are not supposed to tell the media stuff.”
Defense attorneys argued that Beauregard was using the court filing system to plant documents and communications for the media to find. They argued that this was misusing the court system. The judge handling the case says Beauregard was fined for filing documents that “generated headlines” in the sex abuse lawsuit, according to Porter.
Beauregard was also accused of filing strongly-worded attacks on Murray’s attorneys — conduct that did not “paint the legal system in a good light.”
“I think the media needs to sort out whether or not this is a constitutional ruling,” Beauregard said. “And I don’t want to disrespect the judge in any way. So I’m conflicted because I think I’ve been silenced. There’s a lot of important stuff that we have; even now we have a lot of important information to give out. And I have to think about if we can … I have stuff that is really, really hot and I don’t know if I can give it.”
Murray’s personal spokesperson Jeff Reading issued a statement shortly after the judge’s determination:
“We’ve said all along that opposing counsel seems more intent on trying his case in the court of public opinion than in a court of law, and today the judge agreed with us. Clearly, the judge was disturbed by opposing counsel’s antics, and is taking the rare but serious step of sanctioning him. Mayor Murray deserves a right to due process, and it is our hope that the court’s actions today will prevent opposing counsel from further undermining this basic right.”
