The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Mark and Patricia McCloskey’s appeal of a ruling to suspend their law licenses indefinitely over the infamous 2020 incident when the lawyer couple waved their guns at non-violent Black Lives Matter protesters marching near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Supreme Court of Missouri had suspended the wealthy couple’s law licenses indefinitely in February at the recommendation of Missouri’s Chief Disciplinary Counsel.
However, the state Supreme Court stayed the suspension and put the McCloskeys, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to the gun-waving incident, on a year-long probation, allowing them to continue to practice as long as they don’t break any more laws.
Mark McCloskey is running in the Missouri Senate race to replace outgoing Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO). He’s one of several Republicans vying for the nomination ahead of the states August primaries.
The chief disciplinary counsel had requested in September last year that the couple’s law licenses be suspended after Mark and Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault and misdemeanor harassment, respectively.
The couple were required to give up their firearms and pay fines as part of their guilty plea, though Mark McCloskey stayed defiant after the hearing, declaring, “I’d do it again.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) pardoned the McCloskeys, who had become a cause célèbre for conservatives, several weeks later in August 2021.
Which states?
I’ve wondered why the pro gun crowd never concerned itself with the woman in this incident. She has her finger on the trigger of her pistol and is pointing it at people. That’s a crime and grossly unsafe.
The gun nuts tout gun safety as what they’re about. Not in this case it seems. The woman should be jailed.
Are the McCloskeys going to Texas A&M, too?
No problem here with licensed attorneys flaunting the very laws they’re supposed to uphold. Just don’t do anymore criming from this point on, you silly kids! (Or we’ll have to find another meaningless slap-on-the-wrist punishment for you to publicly save face.)
Declined to get involved in a case for which the McCloskeys have been pardoned by the governor and are allowed to continue practicing law as long as they don’t commit crimes for a year. Earthshaking.