Rep. Brian K. Sims (D, Pennsylvania) has, in recent weeks, engaged himself in conduct unbecoming of an elected official, and which casts doubt on his ability to practice law in a nondiscriminatory manner.

On 2 May, 2019, Sims posted a video of himself to Twitter, in which he harassed an elderly woman who was praying outside of a Planned Parenthood "clinic" in southeastern Pennsylvania. The woman, who was praying the rosary outside the clinic, exercising her First Amendment rights of protest and religion, was subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse from Sims, for nearly 9 minutes. He shouted, calling her prayer "disgusting", "grotesque", denigrating her faith, and saying to the camera "Let’s go protest out in front of her house...". When the woman attempted to make a phone call, Sims stated "“Please call the cops. Tell them Representative Brian Sims is standing in his district, telling somebody that using the rights that they’re using to protest women coming into Planned Parenthood is disgusting, and it’s wrong, and it’s shameful.", a clear attempt to use his position of authority as a shield, as though his position made his abuse less reprehensible.

An elected official has no right to exploit the First Amendment to shame, ridicule, harass, and abuse a private citizen for excercising the rights granted them by the Constitution. Our representatives are elected to safeguard our rights, and the Constitution, not to abuse their own constituents for the peaceful excercise of their rights.

Several weeks prior to this incident, Sims posted a video in which he recorded four other peaceful demonstrators outside the same "clinic". He demanded the name and address of one of the four, and offered $100, "What we’ve got here is a bunch of … pseudo Christian protesters who’ve been out here shaming young girls for being here. So, here’s the deal, I’ve got $100 to anybody who will identify these three, and I will donate to Planned Parenthood,”. This incident again showcases the venomous disdain Sims hold for those wtih whom he disagrees.

This is a blatant attempt to solicit others to "dox", or obtain the private information of, the individuals in the video. While not a crime in and of itself, if the information is obtained illegally, both the request and obtaining could constitute a felony in many jurisdictions. Doxing of an individual can lead to criminal harassment, stalking, or even physical assault of the victim.

The five people in Sims' two videos had commited no crime, had not accosted anyone, and were not making a scene. They were praying on the sidewalk, excercising their rights of assembly and religion, and for this Sims felt the need to unleash vitriol upon them. He is using his visibility as an elected official to violate the rights of his constituents, and incite potentially criminal acts against them. Not only is this conduct unsuitable for an elected representative, but it also reflects poorly on his practice as a lawyer in the state of Pennsylvania.

A lawyer who shows such blatant disregard for the Constitution, the highest law of the United States, and shows such disregard for the potential legal ramifications of his actions, has no business practicing law in a nation which guarantees equal legal protections regardless of a citizens views.

In light of these incidents, and Rep. Sims recalcitrance in regards to them, it is fitting that the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania should reevaluate his suitability to practice law.