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The following story will give American citizens unique insight into the evil designs lawyers and judges, (members
of Bar Associations) have on redesigning the United States Constitutions and various state constitutions. The story
originates in Texas, where the state's Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee is investigating Nolo Press Self-Help
Law Books and Software.
Some parents, caught up in the divorce wars, may ask, "What does this have to do with me?" The conduct
of any lawyer or judge that hinders, coerces or denies any citizen the right to publish and speak freely tears
at the root of democracy and illustrates the power lawyers have in America.
Lawyers and judge's power stems largely from various court-made immunity doctrines and rules evolving over the
past three decades. All parents need to understand the mind set of judges and lawyers before hiring a lawyer or
facing a judge in court. The last thing a parent needs is a last minute surprise.
Nearly 210 years ago, James Madison led the extraordinary intellectual effort that resulted in the creation of
the United States Constitution. But initially, Madison had one huge blind spot he was sure that by dividing the
federal government's power between three competing branches, the government would be effectively reined in, and
abuses of government power would be headed off. Nothing else was needed to protect citizens' rights. Madison never
realized that lawyers would infiltrate all branches of government and eventually control the entire democratic
process.
But then a fascinating thing happened. All over the new country, from town meetings to state ratification conventions,
thousands of citizens stood up and refused to accept the Constitution and the new centralized government it created.
They insisted on more explicit protection of their most basic rights as citizens.
So, to ensure adoption of the Constitution, America's political leaders (again led by the redoubtable Madison),
agreed to include ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights. Most important of these was the First
Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, press, assembly and religion.
As history has amply and repeatedly demonstrated, ordinary Americans' stubborn insistence on having these rights
spelled out was wise. Over the years, all levels of government have found excuses to try to control the free flow
of information. Without the free speech and press protections of the First Amendment, there can be little doubt
that our public discourse would be far more timid and our freedom to express ourselves more limited.
Today in Texas, Nolo Press and a number of other self-help law publishers find their publication under heavy threat
by a committee of the Supreme court of Texas, fronting for the state's legal profession. This committee has begun
an investigative process that may result in a lawsuit asking a court to forbid Nolo from distributing our products
to Texas customers, bookstores and libraries. The reason? Providing legal self-help books and software may violate
a Depression-era Texas law banning the "unauthorized practice of law" in other words, competing with
lawyers.
Can Texas judges and lawyers really get together and ban books that discuss basic legal rights, just by claiming
they are acting to protect Texas consumers (who haven't, as far as we know, complained)? Without the U. S. Constitution's
First Amendment, the answer would likely be "you bet." After all, the Texas legal profession essentially
controls the very courts that would decide any lawsuit.
But thanks to the wisdom of ordinary, 18th-century Americans who had just fought a revolution to escape the arbitrary
power of King George III we have a strong legal shield with which to resist the clout of the Texas legal establishment.
Make no mistake, given the opportunity to preserve democracy verses furthering their own greedy ambitions, lawyers
will always take the later position. All states have lawyers intent on perpetuating an illegal monopoly designed
to take control of your life.
See the full story in Nolo Press' words at
http://www.nolo.com
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