Stephen Glass: A Study in Apologies, Redemption, Compassion and Second Chances

Michael Waks

11 years ago

Do you believe in second chances?

I was sick to my stomach after reading about the abuse Stephen Glass received from the California Supreme Court yesterday at the hearing of his Appeal to be admitted as a Lawyer in this State. What has become of our system of Justice when the highest Court in California states unequivocally that there is nothing this young man can do to redeem himself?

I know Stephen Glass. He is a Georgetown University of Law School graduate and one of the brightest people I have ever met. He made mistakes. No question about it. That was over fifteen (15) years ago! He did not kill anyone. He didn’t rape anyone. He did not steal anyone’s money or break up someone’s marriage. He fabricated some articles that were published in the New Republic Magazine and, after being caught, he was fired. He was humiliated and ostracized. He subsequently underwent extensive counseling and rehabilitation. He then went to Law School and graduated at the top of his class from Georgetown.

He now is being denied the opportunity to practice Law in the State of California because these Judges (they haven’t issued their ruling yet but the inquiry at the hearing yesterday was so brutal that the written opinion to follow will most certainly result in a denial of his request to be admitted as an attorney) believe that he should “never” be allowed to be an attorney in this State.

What has become of our ability to forgive? Except for the most heinous of crimes like murder and rape, everyone should get a second chance. We all have just one life to live and we should do everything we can to make the most of it. These Justices will be denying Stephen that opportunity. He has apologized over and over again for his transgressions. He has devoted himself to helping others and is a humble and transformed individual. It is despicable that these Justices refuse to display even a modicum of compassion for Stephen.

Stephen deserves a second chance. Almost everybody does. This story just sickens me.

#SecondChances #StephenGlass #Georgetown #2ndChances #ForgiveAndForget #Compassion
https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-stephen-glass-20131107-story.html#axzz2k4g4E3QY

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Michael Waks

Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.