We hear the reports of breakdowns of civility on the streets of New Orleans, but I am disheartened to see this occurring among members of the legal profession. Lawyers including Ted Frank, Glenn Reynolds and David Kopel are calling for the shooting of looters. I am appalled that members of the legal profession would call for unbridled, vigilante street justice. This is contrary to every fundamental principle we should stand for as lawyers. Fortunately, others offer more rational perspectives, such as Eugene Volokh, Orin Kerr and Eric Muller. As Volokh points out: “The shooting of looters by private citizens is a crime: the crime of murder.”

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.