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Suicide in DC
Say Uncle notes a sad irony.
UPDATE: While doing oneself in is an overreaction to a layoff under any circumstances, I can guess at a context. He's head of the Supreme Court appellate section in a major DC law firm, so he's surely a partner or shareholder. I don't know how those sort of firms are set up, but odds are that "firing" a person in that status requires an extraordinary event... everyone agreeing to those rules knows that they could be used to fire themselves, too.
Odds are that there were some very nasty meetings, in which some very unpleasant things were said, and this being DC, he discovered that a lot of people he'd figured were friends were willing (when their own bottom line was the issue) to pitch him and the others over the side. Likely something like "you can take a 25% cut in your staggering pay, or knife these guys in the back." Or even "if he doesn't go, you might go, so form an alliance that screws him and lets you stay on." This might make things more understandable than if we treat it as he got laid off and did himself in.
Comments
(Hate to portray myself as a cold heart cynic) But, Whew! For a moment there I thought it was the good Robert Levy of the Cato Institute. But it was Mark Levy, the one who argued on behalf of the Clinton Department of Justice for the Brady Bill that required waiting periods and background checks on the purchase of handguns.
I presume it was the liberal 9th Circuit's opinion in the Nordyke v. King case that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Second Amendment shattered his delusion and so no escape to the coming reality of openly armed citizens every that pushed him over the edge. Such devotion of a failed political ideology. Who's next? I wonder.
Posted by: Don Hamrick at April 30, 2009 04:04 PM
OOH! I know who might be next to voluntarily step out of the gene pool! Justice Stevens for his dissenting opinion in the Heller case.
Posted by: Don Hamrick at April 30, 2009 04:09 PM
"Git-R-Done!"
"I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there"
"That ain't right. Lord I apologize for that right there and be with the starving pygmies down there in New Guinea there, Amen."
Posted by: Don Hamrick at April 30, 2009 04:13 PM
I find it interesting that it came on the heels of the layoff announcement. I suspect that he wasn't part of the layoff itself, but that he had been told that he needed to find a new job or retire. Someone with his stature is usually shoved out the door quite gently, but shoved nonetheless. Many lawyers in general, and baby boom lawyers in particular define themselves by their careers. Failing like this could simply have been more than he could bear. Anyways, that's my speculation on the deal.
God bless his family and friends at this time.
Posted by: happycynic at April 30, 2009 04:30 PM
Actually, the layoffs may, *may* have to do with the 20 or so million dollars the firm has sunk into a certain case they filed against a certain federal agency. A case that has turned out to be, well, lets just say it will not as profitable as it was once expected to be.
The case was going real well until the plaintiffs lost what some considered to be their primary attorney - the judge in the case. Since then it has been going steadily downhill for them.
Posted by: Nathan Cognito, Esq. at April 30, 2009 05:20 PM
Anyone care to speculate on whether the litigious war on the Second Amendment is in full retreat and near a truce?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 30, 2009 05:40 PM
Another source is saying that he was one of the 24 layoffs. This is tragic, all the way around and in every aspect. That said, one wonders about the intestinal fortitude of a man with a Yale law degree, many years of excellent experience, and MANY big connections who would see suicide as a response to a layoff.
Posted by: periwinkle at April 30, 2009 07:50 PM
Thank you, Mr. Hardy, for the additional insight. I feel for his family and friends. Personally, I think I'd hang around to, if nothing else, plot my revenge.
Posted by: anon at April 30, 2009 08:15 PM
... and this story, boys and girls, is why identifying wholeheartedly with your job, and devoting yourself to it body and soul, as more and more law firms demand, can truly be the road to perdition.
Posted by: Affe at May 1, 2009 07:40 AM
A DC law firm eating its own. What's not to like?
Is that too cold?
Posted by: emdfl at May 1, 2009 09:24 AM
May daily mantra to my bosses is:
Fire me! Fire me, NOW!
They just won't let me go. But then I have enough time in to retire, my truck has fishing, camping, and hunting gear at the ready, and the lakes have been stocked.
Tiochfaidh ar la!
Posted by: fwb at May 1, 2009 10:23 AM
House (TV Doctor show) had an episode with one of his own team committed suicide.
Maybe Boston Legal will do a "public issue" episode on suicide in the law firm. Dare the link the U.S. Supreme Court and the Second Amendment development from the 9th Circuit?
Posted by: Don Hamrick at May 1, 2009 12:29 PM
Let's see here. He had no loyalty to liberty or the consitution, nor did his firm, so you think it might be possible that lack of loyalty to himself surprised and depressed him enough to commit suicide? Nawww. I don't think so.
Hell, he didn't even have loyalty to his clients, he killed himself with an illegally possessed gun.
I vote for more guilt than he could carry. (probably not so,as that type don't often have enough conscience to feel guilt)
I am sorry for his family. Can't extend it to him.
Posted by: straightarrow at May 1, 2009 07:17 PM
Interesting the number of "friends of Bill" who come to very violent ends......
Posted by: Joe at May 1, 2009 09:43 PM
"Interesting the number of "friends of Bill" who come to very violent ends......"
Interesting, but by no means surprising. As Everyone knows "Slick Willy" was/is up to his eyebrows in organized crime and/or the C.I.A.
Posted by: Pro 2A Leftist at May 2, 2009 12:09 AM