Attorney Norm Pattis Receives Shortened Suspension for Mismanagement of Confidential Documents
March 20, 2025, 10:06 am CDT
Norm Pattis, the attorney for Alex Jones, speaks to the press following a substantial defamation verdict in October 2022. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/The Associated Press)
Norm Pattis, once the legal representative for Infowars host Alex Jones, has been handed a two-week suspension due to improper management of confidential documents during legal proceedings. This ruling came after a Connecticut appeals court partially overturned a prior six-month suspension.
On March 12, Judge Robin L. Wilson issued the suspension, stating it could be implemented at any point within the ensuing six months, according to findings from the 2024 appeals court ruling.
Pattis is currently seeking a postponement of the suspension while he pursues an appeal, requesting that time served during his earlier six-month suspension—which was paused—be recognized.
The misconduct for which Pattis is being sanctioned pertains to his handling of sensitive documents obtained during discovery in a defamation lawsuit linked to Jones. This case involved claims that the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 was a fabrication. In this incident, 26 individuals, including 20 children, lost their lives.
In a previous legal battle, Pattis represented Jones in a Connecticut case, which culminated in a staggering $1.44 billion verdict against Jones for defaming the Sandy Hook families.
Issues arose when Pattis’ firm unintentionally shared confidential medical records with a bankruptcy attorney, who subsequently passed those documents to a Texas lawyer involved in a related case. The Texas attorney’s paralegal then mistakenly disclosed the records to the plaintiffs’ legal team.
Pattis has asserted that he believed the documents were shareable among all lawyers associated with Jones, as reported by Law360.
Judge Wilson criticized Pattis’s actions, highlighting that the sensitive information was “carelessly passed around” without adequate safeguards, particularly given the contentious nature of the underlying case. The judge remarked that Pattis should have exercised greater precaution and vigilance in handling such material.
“There is no acceptable excuse,” Wilson stated, emphasizing Pattis’ extensive experience in high-profile legal matters. She also noted mitigating factors, such as Pattis having no prior disciplinary actions and a lack of selfish or dishonest intent.
In response, Pattis contended that the judge failed to give appropriate weight to character evidence presented during the hearing and claimed that the punishment imposed was excessively harsh under the American Bar Association’s guidelines for such cases.
In his remarks to Law360, Pattis acknowledged the intense emotions surrounding the Sandy Hook litigation, asserting, “When do I stop being ‘Alex Jones’ lawyer’ and resume my role as a lawyer who handles tough cases?”
