Did attorney Ken Chackes cross a line?

Did yesterday's accusatory letter against Fr. Joseph in the Post-Dispatch cross a line? Is it legal for attorney Ken Chackes to influence public opinion in this way?

In the comments section of the article, Kevin Kestner raised a telling point:

 

Rule 4-3.6 Trial Publicity - (a) A lawyer who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter. I would hope the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel would apply this rule to this lawyer, it seems like a textbook example of what NOT to do. If Fr. Chiang is guilty he wil be determined as such by a jury of his peers, trying your civil case in public during the pendency of the criminal case is nothing more than an ambulance chasing, jury pool contaminating move.

The attorney suing Archbishop Carlson issues a challenge in the Post-Dispatch

I have to wonder if Ken Chackes is bluffing in hopes the Church will buckle under the pressure and settle. Likely those e-mails and texts don't amount to much.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/editorial-omitted-significant-allegations-in-priest-s-sex-abuse-case/article_a160c373-7f43-5f60-969f-18b356d92fad.html

Seeing Father this past week reminds me of how important our work is.  His spiritual conversations are inspiring and encouraging to me.  He offers all this humiliation to Jesus for our intentions.  I in turn tell him that we are offering our own trials for his intentions.  The mystical body of Christ at work!  I have often told him that we don't do this just for him, but to defend our Holy Mother the Church and our innocent priests. He realizes that he is nothing special and is eternally grateful for his friends who support him.  God bless you!  Lucy

Great article about Friends of Fr. Joseph Today

"We believe in Father Joseph's innocence," says Lucy Hannegan, who created the Friends of Fr. Joseph Jiang website. "We don't want to see him tried and convicted in the court of public opinion."

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/07/father_joseph_jiang_supporters_website_archdiocese.php#Comments

Post Editorial Board Pessures Archbishop Carlson Today!

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-the-archbishop-should-explain-actions-in-case-against-accused/article_1019c146-1993-5aca-8057-74b1ffcbb416.html

SNAP in Action Today

Accusations against Father Joseph Jiang Listed

Petition

On July 17 the River Front Times featured this story after I spoke to Sam Levin, the writer of their first story about Father.  I called him to give him another side of the story.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/07/archdiocese_st_louis_father_joseph_jiang.php

AP story today

The AP picked up the story about Father Joseph. The article restates the implausible accusations against both Fr. Joseph and Archbishop Carlson contained in the lawsuit. Judy Jones is challenged in the comments by Bill Hannegan: "Do you really believe Carlson would say that? Doesn't that make you question the story a bit?"

http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/suit-archbishop-tried-to-tamper-in-abuse-case/article_7df607ff-b742-5d10-9e5a-9721ab6002e2.html

The Archdiocese has responded to the new lawsuit against Archbishop Carlson:

"We have now seen a copy of the lawsuit. These new allegations against the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Carlson are false and will be denied in an answer to the lawsuit filed in court."
http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/388698/3/Lawsuit-filed-in-connection-to-accused-priest

As soon as I heard about the allegations of sexual conduct against Father Joseph I decided to form a group of friends that would support him. We began to pray for him and his accuser and her family.  We prayed for everyone involved in his case.  And we held holy hours to pray for him, and offered novenas and spiritual bouquets.  Now with more allegations flying around and Archbishop Carlson being named in a suit, we decided to form this blog to stand firm as laity supporting our Church leaders.
Lucy Hannegan