Andrew Lavoott Bluestone of New York Attorney Malpractice Blog brings us this juicy little tidbit about that bon vivant of the Manhattan legal set, Raoul Lionel Felder.  Inexplicably, Raoul was tapped to replace an exceptionally competent and well-respected lawyer, Lawrence Goldman, as chair of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Larry had been unceremoniously dropped as chair, not to mention member, of the commission without so much as thanks.  And now the ten commissioners have unanimously issued a vote of “no confidence” against Raoul, a Pataki-appointee. 

On Friday, Raoul responded, “I wrote a book. This is America — I thought I had a right to write a book.” And the people who have work with you have a right to vote that they have no confidence in you.  It’s a two-way street.  Like Probity Road.  Or Integrity Highway.  Well, you get the point.

Lawyers who try to be taken both seriously and as a “character”, as does Felder, often find themselves caught in a bind.  There are few things a lawyer can do that are as serious and significant than to sit in judgment of judges.  It’s a very risky business, and integrity means more than anything else.  So now, Raoul’s relationship with comedian Jackie Mason comes back to bite him in the butt. 

Raoul was one of those larger than life lawyers, who apparently never missed an opportunity at self-promotion and was always ready for his close-up.  bad guy.  However, he’s a matrimonial lawyer, and yet I would see him on TV opining about matters criminal, civil and otherwise.  It would seem that discretion, and substance, would not stand in the way of a TV opportunity.

Still, I don’t begrudge someone who so obviously desires the limelight his right to show his face whenever he’s asked to do so.  And I don’t even begrudge him some of the silly things I’ve heard him say, since they are hardly much worse than the silly things other people have to say on TV.  Granted, when he puts himself out as a criminal defense lawyer, it makes me wince.  But that’s just a personal pecadillo, and not a reason to castigate ol’ Raoul.

But when he was made the chair of something as important, and serious, as the Judicial Conduct Commission, that made me take a very deep breath.  This is not a show pony position.  This is very serious, and is the final safeguard between a judge (whose word in court can destroy lives in a flash) and everyone else.  When judges can’t be trusted to sit on the bench, it is left to this Commission to throw him or her off.

The last thing the Commission needed was a show pony, whose written words raised significant issues as to what was “allegedly” going on in his head.  This Commission, from chair to the newest member, needs people of unimpeachable integrity and the strength of will to do the right thing no matter how powerful the target.  Thankfully, Raoul imploded.  Let’s hope that the next chair will better reflect the type of lawyer that the people of the State of New York expect and need.