A Cook County judge Wednesday threw attorney Joel Brodsky and opposing counsel Michael Meschino off a civil case for what he said was "deplorable behavior."

In the latest controversy involving Brodsky, former lead attorney for convicted murderer Drew Peterson, Judge Raymond Mitchell wrote in an opinion and order that the attorneys had "proved impervious to reason and to a show of force," and that disqualifying them was necessary to ensure the parties' right to a fair trial.

The decision came after months of courtroom disturbances involving Brodsky and Meschino, including two instances in which a sheriff's deputy had to escort Meschino out of the courtroom, records show.

"Despite all of the admonitions and the repeated attempts to dissuade the attorneys from engaging in further misconduct, these attorneys have, to this day, continued to act wholly improperly," Mitchell wrote.

A copy of the order was sent to the state Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which regulates lawyers.

Both Brodsky and Meschino said they were "relieved" to be free of each other in the case involving a failed business deal. But each blamed the other for the judge's order.

Several altercations between the lawyers were detailed in a motion Brodsky filed with the court Tuesday. Mitchell referred to the motion in his order.

According to the document, Meschino insulted and threatened Brodsky after a court hearing. He called Brodsky "little man" and "fat, bald and short," and threatened to "beat the crap out of" Brodsky.

The animosity between the two got so bad that Mitchell took the rare step of allowing a deposition to take place on the neutral ground of the courtroom, under the watch of court security.

Still, the lawyers ended up arguing. At one point during that meeting, Meschino criticized Brodsky for "constantly shaking his head, his bald head, so that the light is shining on me," according to the transcript. Brodsky called Meschino a "liar" and a "moron."

In an interview after Wednesday's hearing, Brodsky said Meschino is "obsessed" with Brodsky because of his role in the Peterson case. In his motion, Brodsky alleged that Meschino is "a very sick man" with "serious anger issues." He asked the court to force Meschino to undergo a mental health examination.

"I'm not obsessed with him at all," Meschino said after the hearing. "I just think that when someone calls you names … it's natural if you get a little bit upset."

Before issuing his ruling, Mitchell complained that the lawyers expected him to "baby-sit" them and that their ongoing drama had caused him to staff the courtroom with as many as four deputy sheriffs.

"Indeed, not only has the required presence of additional security personnel proved unsuccessful in dissuading the egregious conduct of Mr. Brodsky and Mr. Meschino, the idea of diverting security personnel from other areas of the courthouse to deal with attorneys on a repeated basis is completely unacceptable," Mitchell wrote.

Saying both lawyers were to blame, he gave the parties to the lawsuit 21 days to find new lawyers.

Brodsky also had committed "outright attorney misconduct," Mitchell said, by sending two letters complaining about Meschino to Chief Judge Timothy Evans. Neither Mitchell nor Meschino were copied on the letters.

Brodsky led the defense team in the trial of Drew Peterson, who was found guilty in September of the 2004 murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Arguing that Brodsky botched the defense, Peterson requested but was denied a new trial this year.

This is the second time in recent months that a strained relationship between Brodsky and another lawyer has been aired in court.

Earlier this year, Brodsky's former law partner Reem Odeh testified at a hearing about the Peterson case that Brodsky had assaulted her in 2010 and that he had threatened her just before she took the stand. Brodsky said both allegations were lies.

It is also the second recent occasion that a judge has raised questions about Brodsky's conduct.

Last month, the judge who oversaw the Peterson trial said he was troubled by statements Brodsky made on WGN-TV. He referred the issue to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Brodsky is suing Steven Greenberg, his former teammate on the Peterson case, and Tribune Co., among others, for libel. Brodsky also said Greenberg was mentally ill.

Ellen Jean Hirst contributed.

kgeiger@tribune.com