'Married to a Black': Steve Fischer's Critics Want Him Out

Some lawyers want Steve Fischer, a board of directors member of the State Bar of Texas, to resign over Facebook comments about race that they found offensive. He says he won't resign.

July 17, 2020 at 11:22 AM

5 minute read

By Angela Morris

As calls for State Bar of Texas President Larry McDougal to resign grow louder, there's a softer volley of voices saying that another board of directors member should also step down.

McDougal, who has said he will not resign, came under fire this week because of online comments about Black Lives Matter and other posts on Facebook. Now, some lawyers are pointing to offensive posts by Texas Bar Director Steve Fischer, who was elected in May and sworn in on June 19.

'Did you just say …?'

Dylan Drummond, counsel at Gray Reed in Dallas, said Fischer should resign because of a recent back-and-forth discussion with a female attorney in the Texas Family Lawyers group on Facebook. He emailed us screenshots of the exchange.

"You did nothing to help civil rights this week except you're still married to a Black," Fischer wrote.

She replied, "Did you just say I am married to a black? You have no clue!"

Later, Fischer wrote, "So you married a Black—now where's that money?"

Drummond said he thinks Fischer used the word Black as a racist term.

"I'm not unbiased or objective here. My spouse is African American. I was shocked a sitting director of the State Bar would use such terminology," Drummond said. "It was not acceptable to me in any way, shape or form."

He said he has since learned that Fischer has a history of being bombastic and politically incorrect.

"This was kind of in line with how he has typically treated folks: It was very condescending and offensive, his interactions with this female lawyer," Drummond said.

'Jews suffered way worst'

Fischer ran for president-elect of the bar in 2013. Lawyers opposed his candidacy because of improper comments he posted on Facebook that critics said were racist toward Mexicans and had attacked Catholics and others who believe in organized religion. Fischer said he was being sarcastic and his opponents took his comments out of context.

'Feel bad later'

When Texas Lawyer emailed the screenshots to Sorrels, he said he feels that using the term "a Black" is dehumanizing, and that the statement about Jews was divisive based on race and religion. Sorrels said he feels that Texas Bar leaders should not make such divisive comments.

"I've seen Steve use words really loosely in his posts, and I think they would make anybody cringe. The next day, I will see Steve saying, 'I've been trying to support minority candidates, women candidates, people looking for real change to our profession.' His support is across gender, race and religion lines."

Fischer admitted to writing both sets of comments. He said he has apologized for the statements about the attorney's African American husband.

He said he is Jewish and some of his ancestors died in concentration camps during the Holocaust.

"In the last 80 to 90 years, Jews have suffered worse than Blacks, and that is my opinion, and I am entitled to it," said Fischer. "I always have felt an alignment with minorities, because I think Jews and Blacks and Hispanics should stick together."

Fischer said he disagrees that he should resign.

He also supports McDougal in continuing in his year as bar president. As the discussion has grown over McDougal's online comments, Fischer said he has been taunting some attorneys who have been telling McDougal to resign.

"Sometimes, I enjoy taunting them, so they get angry at me," he said. "If I had not taken Larry's side, this would not have happened."

When asked why he acted offensive on purpose, Fischer said he gets really passionate about defending his friends and defending free speech.

"I get over-passionate, and I sometimes feel bad later," Fischer said.