Published: February 09, 2006 05:02 pm      

Legal embarassment — Lawyers’ commercials sacrific respect

Do questionable commercials on television, jingles on radio stations and even refrigerator magnets diminish the dignity and respectability of the law profession? Many citizens and most area lawyers think so.

We couldn’t agree more.

Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, does too. In fact, he echoes a statewide disgust with his objections to commercials that denigrate the discipline of some lawyers.

Regulation of lawyer advertising, especially on television, will be introduced again this year in the West Virginia Legislature. Sen. Chafin has prepared a Senate measure calling for a mechanism to control advertising of legal services.

In a resolution Chafin and Sen. John Yoder presented last year, which passed in the Senate but died in the House of Delegates, they said, “The legal profession’s public image, once perceived as honorable and noble, has eroded into a carnival-like thing, akin to a blue-light special, touted on a used car lot.”

Well said.

We believe lawyers have a heritage that should be honored. The profession carries responsibility. It should not be just a money-making opportunity with frivolous law suits or ill-designed ambitions.

Sadly, because of a few, the level of respect by the general public is diminishing.

Citing the failure of the West Virginia Bar to get involved in control of advertising rights granted by the U.S. Supreme Court 30 years ago, Chafin has renewed the effort to prohibit false, misleading information on airways or through other sources.

The Mingo County Democrat, who represents District Six including Mercer County, said the State Bar is reluctant to tackle the problem. So, he wants the Legislature to take action.

Putting the clamps on improper and false advertising is a start. We strongly support Chafin’s efforts — and salute his courage to stand up and call for regulation in his own career field.

We urge lawmakers to support this proposed legislation.