There was a shocking arrest for many in the Texas bar this week when former dean of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law John B. Attanasio was charged under prostitution laws. Attanasio, 60, is free on $500 bail for the class B misdemeanor.
Attanasio served three terms as dean from 1998 to 2013. The decision not to renew his contract caused quite a stir, including the resignation of Leslie Ware, a member of the Dedman Law School executive board, in protest of not being informed of the plan by the University. A letter protesting the decision and asking for reconsideration was sent by fifty-six prominent alumni, including two former Texas Supreme Court judges, a federal judge, a former federal judge, the current U.S. attorney and the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Attanasio was considered a successful fundraiser and popular dean. Many speculated that he was latest victim of the annual survey at U.S. News and World Report, where the school continues to flounder below where many believe it should be in the rankings.
Attanasio is currently the Judge William Hawley Atwell Chair of Constitutional Law and professor.
This is the second Dean to find himself facing prostitution charges.
Ironically, there is an ongoing debate in academia over the constitutionality of the criminalization of prostitution if it involves consenting adults. Most however believe that such laws are constitutional and remain a matter of state law. Only one state, Nevada, allows for prostitution. Roughly 50 countries, including allies like Germany and France, have some form of legal prostitution under close regulation by the state.
It is not clear how the school will respond if he pleads guilty to a misdemeanor. Recently, we discussed the case of a professor who actually assaulted women on campus, pleaded guilty to assault, but was not terminated or even apparently seriously reprimanded by the University of California.
The school issued the following statement:
Dear SMU Law Faculty and Students,
I am writing to share the below message with you that Dr. Turner has just sent to the University’s Board of Trustees. This will also be shared with the media in response to inquiries.
“SMU learned from media reports today of the arrest of Law Professor John Attanasio in Collin County. In accordance with University policy, SMU does not comment on matters under active investigation by area police. Professor Attanasio will not teach his class this week. SMU will gather information and follow University procedure to determine any appropriate action under its policy in such matters.”
This week’s session of Professor Attanasio’s class is cancelled. Students should not come to class.
Paul Ludden
He was praised as a successful fundraiser, and successful prostitutes need to know how to market themselves. An interesting connection.
Attanasio was booked into the Collin County jail Sunday on a Class B misdemeanor charge of prostitution, a crime punishable by up to six months in jail. Four other men were also arrested during the weekend sting at Frisco hotel.
All jokes aside, I would like to know the actual charge against him. Not that it makes that much of a difference, but an answer would be helpful.
Paul-Much better. It makes me feel classier.
Edward – good, we would not want you outside your comfort zone. 😉
Paul-I resent that. I’m expensive, so I prefer “call girl.”
Edward – would you feel better with escort?
I’m confused. . .was he charged with prostitution or was he charged with solicitation of prostitution? There’s a difference. The way the article is written, it appears as if he was acting as a prostitute, as opposed to trying to hire one. Does anyone know the answer?
tellingitlikeitis – most attorneys are prostitutes anyway. 🙂 They will go with whomever pays them.
The contemporary career of law school administrators and professors seem to be one of the most ignoble professions in the Untied States.
There is a reason for prostitution laws in the Planet Earth. You do not have total socialism where the people all pay in to the government and the government pays all people for most things. You here on Planet Earth have love and marriage. Well marriage. So that women can have the offspring and take care of them and the men can provide. Lately it has evolved to the women working as well to provide– in the West anyway. So if men can freely go pay and pork and like their choices then they will abandon the wifeypoo and things will go to hell in the proverbial handbasket. In Amsterdam however, one can see that this outlawing of prostitution is dumb. European couples will travel to Amsterdam on the guy’s birthday so he can go choose a romp in the hay with those that lay for pay. Wife sits in the bar and joyfully waits. And when he comes back all chipper they both drink toasts.
Where I found these laws against prostitution to really be hypocritical is in Washington DC where the lawmakers have hookers.
Back on Remulak we have porkin machines and do not have these problems.
However, while here on Planet Earth I will try a hooker who is a looker in a New York minute– particularly in New Orleans. But now I am back in Ferguson working on a study to be published with some locals there and the title will be “When Ferguson Went South.” I will let you know some tid-bits quite soon.
I thought he was wearing the towel because he lost his clothes!😧
I thought by definition all lawyers are prostitutes?
What’s the big deal?
Islam allows “temporary marriages” (Sigha) so Iranians can engage in casual sex with official and clerical sanction.
We could do so, eliminating prostitution, and call the payment a husband’s dowry.
Nick
Not getting a haircut. He was lost in a delusion of being Marcus Aurelius having just finished administering a argument based on the law concerning the right of one to sell one’s body, to the Roman Senate. I think he got a few laughs.
However, if all this was simply part of political fundraising, he was considered a successful fundraiser, then, why heck, as we say down here in Texas, what’s wrong with that. In the land of hypocrisy the man with the most money is king.
DBQ,
Legalizing prostitution would help reduce the amount of sex trade (which I don’t believe is as big a problem to begin with). Get it in the open. Men are going to visit legal brothels where the risk of arrest is almost naught, the women are going to work there for safety over the street.
It won’t eliminate it, but sure will cut down on the supply and demand.
Bailers – I grew up in a city were prostitution was not legal, but also not illegal. There were three house on the edge of town where the ‘girls’ lived and plied their trade. They were on my paper route. Lovely people, big tippers.
Hypocrisy is saying women’s bodies are theirs when it comes to abortion, body art and surgical modification. Or renting it in front of a camera.
But not when they want to charge men money for sex. God no we can’t have that as a civilized society.
OMG….what woman would be desperate enough to hire him as a prostitute????….oh….wait…..
I’m torn on the idea of legalized prostitution. Similar to the Nevada rules.
On one hand it would/could provide a better and more safe environment for the workers and for the clients. Instead of being under the control of a pimp and working on the streets. Health checks and protection from abuse. Maybe even a nice 401K and benefit package 🙂
One the other hand, the scrutiny of legalized prostitution would have to be strict and constant to prevent abuse and involuntary “workers” being used and ensure the safety of everyone.
Torn.
Well I am for the right of consenting adults to do with each other what they wish, money or no money involved.
But I am very against hypocrisy and oath taking violations, which this guy seems to be guilty of.
Gary T – would you mind pointing out the hypocrisy and oath taking violations?
This is one seriously creepy picture.
Was he getting a haircut when this photo was taken? WTF?
Nick – they use a towel on all photos so everyone looks the same. This question came up on another legal blog. 😉
Olly – I could not agree more. The same moral philosophy works for both. In some countries I heard they were unionized. 🙂
How is banning prostitution constitutional and yet a ban on same-sex marriage is not?