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R.I.P. William J. Sheaffer, Esq.

I have been informed that Mr. Sheaffer is being given the option of either resigning from the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers or being expelled.

So I only have one question Mr. Sheaffer, was it worth it?

So I only have one question Mr. Sheaffer, was it worth it?

Was it worth sullying your reputation among every criminal defense lawyer in the state just so Kathy Belich could get a story? Was it worth having your claims of “professionalism” published on Mr. Boedeker’s blog on the same day you sold out an entire organization.

You may be an Internet sensation and a media darling, but you are a disgrace to your colleagues. Good job.

You may me an Internet sensation and a media darling, but you are a disgrace to your colleagues. Good job.

And for those that are interested, I did verify that Mr. Sheaffer lied to obtain the seminar materials. Apparently FACDL was concerned that the audio would be leaked, so they set up a system to stream the audio.

Mr. Sheaffer called FACDL headquarters and claimed he was having a hard time hearing the audio and would like to have a copy sent to him. He went so far as to say he needed it so that he could maintain his death penalty qualifications.

FACDL believed Mr. Sheaffer and sent him the audio as he requested – he immediately turned it over to Ms. Belich. The rest is history – just like his reputation among his colleagues.

The rest is history – just like his reputation among his colleagues.

As a side-note, I was informed that when this situation was brought to the attention of the News Director for WFTV-ABC, he was the consummate professional and removed all references at the request of FACDL. I would like to not only commend him for that, I would like to say thank you.

I would like to say thank you.

393 Comments

  1. patsy says:

    am not defending Hornsa&& but the CFACDL is a different association than the FACDL.. one is Florida the other is Central Fl..

  2. Mrs.T says:

    punch :This is not constructive, this is not civilized, this is nearly mob action.
    I am not condoning anyones behavior or actions.
    I fail to see how this will resolve anything.
    Step back.This is not how rational people behave.

    How do you suggest that people behave – like a bunch of back biting lawyers?

  3. punch says:

    Mrs.T :

    punch :This is not constructive, this is not civilized, this is nearly mob action.I am not condoning anyones behavior or actions.I fail to see how this will resolve anything.Step back.This is not how rational people behave.

    How do you suggest that people behave – like a bunch of back biting lawyers?

    Set an example, don’t be a follower, be a leader.

    Easy to be part of the mass.

    tougher and more rewarding to be an example to the masses.

    Speak with conviction, and intelligence.

    If you can speak what you mean without ignorance and insults, it speaks volumes for your character.

  4. punch says:

    where are all the comments going, and who assigned me this avatar?

  5. Pair of Flip Flops says:

    @kaelieanne
    Who cares if it has typos andor misspellings? You understood it, right?

    He got it posted fast and I’m glad for that!

    It’s about time the REAL jury pool tainters were exposed.

  6. punch says:

    So, how ’bout them Buc’s???

  7. Inappropriate Behaviour says:

    punch :Here we have a classic example of emotions overriding common sense.
    All of this nonsense is out of control.
    Chaos, utter Chaos.
    I see no one, not anyone one person that has posted here this evening in control of their emotions.
    Civilization, 2009.

    Punch,
    If you read my posts I think you can see that they are quite rational and I am completely in charge of my emotions.

    I asked some fairly straightforward questions and Mr. Hornsby responded to one, which led to the information regarding both CFACDL and FACDL. There appears to be a discrepancy in that Mr. Hornsby is listed as a member on both sites, yet he says he is not a member of FACDL, of which CFACDL is an affiliate chapter. Perhaps Mr. Hornsby can clear this up for us.

    I agree some of the comments here are over the top; however, if you think is not how rational people behave, how would you describe Mr. Hornsby’s original blog comments? Do you not think that Mr. Hornsby’s attacks on Mr. Sheaffer and the wording he uses is also a bit too much? You are also correct in stating what is going on throughout this blog is not going to resolve anything. However, I think we can all agree that the Casey Anthony case creates a great deal of emotion on both the pro and the con sides and that is not going to change.

    Whether it was right or wrong (and whether it was Mr. Sheaffer who released them or not), the audiotapes were released and are now in the public domain. They certainly gave us a clear insight into Ms. Lyon’s rather ugly and vulgar thoughts and feelings towards anyone but the people she defends. Her scorched earth policy is damaging not only to the people that are trampled by it, but also to the legal profession.

    That’s my two cents!

  8. jmlm6355 says:

    @Ocean Child
    I to looked and seen his name there. So MR. Hornsby would you be lying? Mr. Hornsby, I just saw your arrest records….how can you be on any boards????? I never cared for you anyway. I always thought you and Bozo were drinking BUDS.

  9. Pair of Flip Flops says:

    @Mrs.T
    I wish Mr. Hornsby had spoken out sooner and not been so generous by waiting until Sheaffer’s third mistake!

    If you want to preach compassion, where’s Sheaffer’s for the Anthony’s and his fellow CDL’s?!

    Mr. Sheaffer has shown himself as an opportunist, at best.

  10. punch says:

    Inappropriate Behaviour :

    punch :Here we have a classic example of emotions overriding common sense.All of this nonsense is out of control.Chaos, utter Chaos.I see no one, not anyone one person that has posted here this evening in control of their emotions.Civilization, 2009.

    Punch,If you read my posts I think you can see that they are quite rational and I am completely in charge of my emotions.
    I asked some fairly straightforward questions and Mr. Hornsby responded to one, which led to the information regarding both CFACDL and FACDL. There appears to be a discrepancy in that Mr. Hornsby is listed as a member on both sites, yet he says he is not a member of FACDL, of which CFACDL is an affiliate chapter. Perhaps Mr. Hornsby can clear this up for us.
    I agree some of the comments here are over the top; however, if you think is not how rational people behave, how would you describe Mr. Hornsby’s original blog comments? Do you not think that Mr. Hornsby’s attacks on Mr. Sheaffer and the wording he uses is also a bit too much? You are also correct in stating what is going on throughout this blog is not going to resolve anything. However, I think we can all agree that the Casey Anthony case creates a great deal of emotion on both the pro and the con sides and that is not going to change.
    Whether it was right or wrong (and whether it was Mr. Sheaffer who released them or not), the audiotapes were released and are now in the public domain. They certainly gave us a clear insight into Ms. Lyon’s rather ugly and vulgar thoughts and feelings towards anyone but the people she defends. Her scorched earth policy is damaging not only to the people that are trampled by it, but also to the legal profession.
    That’s my two cents!

    I disagree with some of RH’s posts, as I stated I condoned no ones behavior.

    Again, this thread regarding the controversial post was out of control.

    Perhaps your post was lost in the quagmire, for that I apologize for missing it.
    no insult intended

  11. weasel says:

    Inappropriate Behaviour :

    Richard Hornsby :

    joe blow :

    Inappropriate Behaviour :Mr. Hornsby,Why would you choose to release information that the FACDL told you regarding Mr. Sheaffer and his potential resignation/expulsion? Would that not be confidential information between the FACDL and Mr. Sheaffer?

    outstanding post!

    Because I am not a member of FACDL, so there is no prohibition of me releasing information I obtained.

    Mr. Hornsby – as some other posters have kindly pointed out through links to the FACDL website, you are indeed listed as a member of FACDL. Would you care to revise your response?

    Yes, lets hear a answer

  12. loves2shop says:

    Hey.. I have heels on my avatar ..Looks like I am shopping….Thanks…

  13. jmlm says:

    @Pair of Flip Flops
    And Hornsby isn’t. Yeah ok.

  14. punch says:

    loves2shop :Hey.. I have heels on my avatar ..Looks like I am shopping….Thanks…

    mine looks like I’m gonna throw up.

    (Can you re-sort the comments in chronologic order as they were before please? thanx)

  15. @joe blow
    Joe Blow – It is true I was a member over a year ago. I am not a member now, nor have I been for the past year. I suspect the link you keep posting has not been updated. However, if you look under the Find a Lawyer section, you will see that I am not listed on either the Members Alphabetically or Members by City.

    I have sent an email to FACDL asking them to remove the reference you found.

    I understand this explanation will not satisfy you and you will want me to explain this discrepancy ad nauseum, but this will be my only response to this particular inquiry because there is nothing more I could say.