In his 20s Stephen Glass lied about people situations and companies in dozens of articles which he was compensated for. He fabricated articles for major magazines and made up quotations, faking peoples’ entire existences, and was reviewed as a fab writer who wrote for the New Republic and the Rolling Stone, and other cool magazines at the time.
Now Glass is a Georgetown University law school graduate and a law clerk, and the California Supreme Court will decide whether he can practice law. His past fabrications and years of publishing outright lies are what put others into a position to reject his application to practice law.
Justice Joyce L. Kennard went over Glass’ past behaviors and described lie after lie that harmed the reputation and goodwill of companies and individuals. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye commented that “Glass was involved in a depth of deception that was pretty sophisticated and failed for several years to completely come clean about all the articles that harmed people.”
Justice Marvin R. Baxter noted that Stephen Glass lied and published those harmful lies “over a long period of time.” Justice Ming W. Chin also noted that Stephen wrote a novel about the lying that he did and earned money showcasing his dishonesty. Rachel Grunberg is a representative of the admissions committee of the state bar, and she called Glass “the perpetuator of one of the greatest frauds in American Journalism,” as well as “an infamous serial liar.”
At this point, Glass has undergone years of psychoanalysis and treatment. He says that he did everything to gain love from his editor, as he wanted his editor to love him because his father never loved him.
Glass has tried to atone for his sins through community work, charity, and pro bono work. He has recreated himself and has developed a reputation for “impeccable honesty.” His lawyer claims that he is a new man, but the LA Times say that the “justices seemed unimpressed.” As Glass then left the courthouse, he gave no comment, and the fight for a law license continues.
Image Credit: LA Times