Defendant: William Kennedy SmithCrime Charged: RapeChief Defense Lawyers: Roy E. Black, Mark Schnapp, and Mark SeidenChief Prosecutors: Moira K. Lasch and Ellen RobertsJudge: Mary E. LupoPlace: West Palm Beach, FloridaDates of Trial: December 2-11, 1991Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The Kennedy family name and the concomitant glare of global media attention made this nothing less than the most …
Defendant: Richard Allen Abood LyonCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Dan C. GuthrieChief Prosecutor: Jerri SimmsJudge: John C. CreuzotPlace: Dallas, TexasDate of Trial: December 2, 1991-January 19, 1992Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life in prison and $10,000 fine SIGNIFICANCE: This murder case had all the elements of a good "whodunit": old money, a marriage gone sour, and arsenic…
Defendants: Yahweh Ben Yahweh (Hulon Mitchell); Codefendants (15 in all): Mikael, Absalom, Jesee Obed, Abiri, Isaiah Solomon, Hezion, Hoseah Isaac, Enoch, Aher, Job, Amri, Dan, Ahinadab, Sister Judith (who was Yahweh's second in command), Ahaz (all codefendants had "Israel" as their surname)Crimes Charged: Conspiracy to commit murder, racketeeringChief Defense Lawyer: Alcee Ha…
Defendant: Jim MitchellCrimes Charged: Murder, burglary, weapons chargesChief Defense Lawyers: Michael Kennedy, Nanci ClarenceChief Prosecutor: John PoseyJudge: Richard BrienerPlace: San Rafael, CaliforniaDate of Trial: January 13-February 19, 1992Verdict: Guilty of voluntary manslaughter and weapons chargesSentence: Six years, three on voluntary manslaughter and three on weapons charges; paroled …
Defendant: John GottiCrimes Charged: Racketeering; racketeering conspiracy; murder; Illegal gambling; obstruction of justice; and conspiracies to murder, bribe a detective, obstruct justice, commit loan sharking, and commit tax fraudChief Defense Lawyer: Albert J. KriegerChief Prosecutors: John Gleeson and Andrew J. MaloneyJudge: I. Leo GlasserPlace: Brooklyn, New YorkDates of Trial: January 21-Ap…
Defendant: Michael Gerard TysonCrimes Charged: Rape, criminal deviant conduct, and confinementChief Defense Lawyers: Kathleen I. Beggs, Vincent J. Fuller, and F. Lane HeardChief Prosecutors: David Dreyer, J. Gregory Garrison, and Barbara J. TrathenJudge: Patricia J. GiffordPlace: Indianapolis, IndianaDates of Trial: January 26-February 10, 1992Verdict: GuiltySentence: 10 years imprisonment SIGNIFI…
Defendants: Theodore J. Briseno, Stacey C. Koon, Laurence M. Powell, and Timothy E. WindCrimes Charged: First trial: Assault, excessive force by a police officer, and filing false report; Second trial: Violating civil rightsChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Paul DePasquale, Darryl Mounger, and Michael P. Stone; second trial: Harland W. Braun, Paul DePasquale, Ira M. Salzman, and Michael P. Stone…
Defendant: Richard LapointeCrimes Charged: Murder, arson, assault, sexual assault, kidnappingChief Defense Lawyers: Patrick Culligan, Christopher CosgroveChief Prosecutors: Rosita Creamer, Dennis O'ConnorJudge: David M. BarryPlace: Hartford, ConnecticutDate of Trial: May 6—July 6, 1992Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 years SIGNIFICANCE: While the trial itself provok…
Defendants: First trial: Lemrick Nelson, Jr.; second trial: Lemrick Nelson, Jr. and Charles PriceCrimes Charged: First trial: Nelson: Murder; second trial: Nelson and Price: Violation of civil rightsChief Defense Lawyers: Nelson: Trevor L.F. Headley, Arthur Lewis, Jr., James Neuman, and Christine E. Yaris; Price: Darrell Paster and Anthony RiccoChief Prosecutors: Valerie Caproni, Zachary W. Carter…
Defendant: Amy FisherCrimes Charged: Attempted murder, assaultChief Defense Lawyer: Eric NaiburgChief Prosecutor: Fred Klein.Judge: Marvin GoodmanPlace: Long Island, New YorkDate of Trial: September 24, 1992Verdict: Guilty of assaultSentence: 5-15 years imprisonment; released after 7 years SIGNIFICANCE: The Amy Fisher/Joey Buttafuoco affair (she being a teenager at the time) showed the extent of t…
Defendants: Christopher Archer, Bryant Grober, Kevin Scherzer, Kyle ScherzerCrime Charged: RapeChief Defense Lawyers: Kyle Scherzer: Louis Esposito; Christopher Archer: Thomas Ford, Jr.; Kevin Scherzer: Michael Querques; Bryant Grober: Alan ZegasChief Prosecutors: Glenn Goldberg, Robert Laurino, Elizabeth Miller-HallJudge: R. Benjamin CohenPlace: Newark, New JerseyDates of Trial: October 15, 1992-…
Defendant: Woody AllenPlaintiff: Mia FarrowPlaintiff Claim: Custody of three children Allen Shared with Mia FarrowChief Defense Lawyers: Alan M. Dershowitz, Eleanor B. AlterChief Lawyer for the Plaintiff: Elkan AbramowitzJudge: Elliot WilkPlace: New, York, New YorkDate of Trial: March 19-June 7, 1993Verdict: Petition for custody was denied SIGNIFICANCE: This custody battle between two very public …
Defendants: Randall Weaver, Kevin HarrisCrimes Charged: Conspiracy, murder, failure to appear for trial, interference with federal marshals, possession of illegal firearms, resisting arrest, violation of bailChief Defense Lawyer: Gerry SpenceChief Prosecutor: Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron HowenJudge: Edward J. LodgePlace: Boise, IdahoDate of Trial: April 12-July 8, 1993Verdict: Guilty of bail violat…
Plaintiff: Jeffrey M. MassonDefendants: Janet Malcolm and the New Yorker magazinePlaintiff Claim: That certain quotes in a profile of the plaintiff written by the defendant and published in the New Yorker were libelousChief Defense Lawyer: Gary BostwickChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Charles 0. MorganJudge: Eugene F. LynchPlace: San Francisco, CaliforniaDates of Trials: May 6-June 3, 1993; October 3-N…
Defendants: Larry Nevers, Walter Budzyn, Robert LessnauCrimes Charged: Nevers and Budzyn: murder; Lessnau: aggravated assaultChief Defense Lawyers: Carol Stanyar, James Howarth, Michael Batchelor, John GoldpaughChief Prosecutor: Kym WorthyJudge: Robert W. Crockett IllPlace: Detroit, MichiganDates of Trials: First trial: JuneAugust 1993; Budzyn retrial: April 1998; Nevers retrial: March 2000Verdict…
Defendants: Lyle and Erik MenendezCrimes Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Leslie Abramson, Jill Lansing; second trial: Leslie Abramson, Jill Lansing, Barry LevinChief Prosecutor: First trial: Pamela Bozanich; second trial: David ConnJudge: Both trials: Stanely M. WeisbergPlace: Both Trials: Los Angeles, CaliforniaDates of Trials: First trial: July 20, 1993-January 28, 1994; secon…
Defendants: Cara and Dan SchmidtPlaintiffs: Jan and Roberta DeBoerPlaintiff Claim: The DeBoer's sought to block the order of the Michigan Supreme Court to return Jessica to the SchmidtsChief Defense Lawyer: Marian FaupelChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Scott BassettJustices: William H. Rehnquist, Harry A. Blackmun, John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy…
Defendant: Ira EinhornCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Norris E. GelmanChief Prosecutors: Lynne Abraham, Joel RosenJudge: Juanita Kidd StoutPlace: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDate of Trial: September 1993Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: Philadelphia prosecutors took the unusual step of trying Ira Einhorn in absentia more than 12 years after he had jumped bail and fl…
Defendants: First trial: Mahmud Abouhalima, Ahmad Ajaj, Nidal Ayyad, and Mohammed Salameh; second trial: Eyad Ismoil and Ramzi YousefCrimes Charged: Multiple offenses, including explosive destruction of property, conspiracy, interstate transportation of explosives, and assault on a federal officerChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Hassen lbn Abdellah, Atig Ahmed, Austin Campriello, and Robert Pre…
Defendants: First trial: John Wayne Bobbitt; second trial: Lorena BobbittCrimes Charged: First trial: marital sexual assault; second trial: malicious woundingChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Gregory L. Murphy; second trial: Lisa B. KemlerChief Prosecutor: Both trials: Paul B. Ebert.Judge: Both trials: Herman Whisenaut, Jr.Place: Both trials: Manassas, VirginiaDates of Trials: First Trial: Novem…
Defendants: Damien Wayne Echols, Charles Jason Baldwin, Jessie MisskelleyCrimes Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Val P. Price, Scott Davidson, Daniel StidhamChief Prosecutors: Brent Davis, John FoglemanJudge: David BurnettPlace: Jonesboro, ArkansasDate of Trial: January-April 1994Verdict: GuiltySentences: Echols: Death by lethal injection; Baldwin and Misskelley: life imprisonment SIGNIFICANC…
Defendant: Dr. Jack KevorkianCrimes Charged: Assisted suicide, murder, delivering a controlled substance for administering drugs without a licenseChief Defense Lawyers: 1994 and 1996: Geoffrey Fieger, Mayer Morganroth; 1999: David Gorosh, Lisa DwyerChief Prosecutor: 1994 and 1996: Richard Thompson, Lawrence Bunting, Michael Modelski; 1999: David Gorcyca, Daniel L. Lemisch, John O'Brien, Joh…
Defendant: Paul CoxCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyer: Andrew A. RubinChief Prosecutor: George L. BolenJudge: James R. CowheyPlace: White Plains, New YorkDates of Trials:First trial: June 1994; second trial: November-December 1994Verdicts: First trial: Mistrial/hung jury; second trial: Guilty of manslaughterSentence: 16-50 years imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: The courts refusal in the Paul Cox …
Defendant: Jennifer IrelandPlaintiff: Steven SmithPlaintiff Claim: Custody of his daughter, MarandaChief Defense Lawyer: Julie FieldChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Sharon-Lee EdwardsJudge: Raymond R. CashenPlace: Macomb County, MichiganDate of Trial: June 27, 1994Decision: Custody was granted to Steven Smith SIGNIFICANCE: The judge's surprising decision granting custody of Baby Maranda to her f…
Defendant: Paula CoughlinPlaintiff: The Las Vegas HiltonPlaintiff Claim: That the Las Vegas Hilton failed to provide adequate security during the 1991 Tailhook conventionChief Defense Lawyer: Eugene WaltChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Dennis SchovilleJudge: Philip M. ProPlace: Las Vegas, NevadaDate of Trial: September 12-October 28, 1994Verdict: Against the defendant, awarding the plaintiff $1.7 milli…
Defendant: Paul J. HillCrimes Charged: Murder, attempted murder, and shooting at an occupied vehicleChief Defense Lawyer: Paul HillChief Prosecutor: James R. MurrayJudge: FrankL. BellPlace: Pensacola, FloridaDates of Trial: October 31-November 3, 1994Verdict: Guilty of all chargesSentence: Death by electrocution SIGNIFICANCE: Paul Hill was the first anti-abortion activist sentenced to die for murd…
Defendants: Tupac Shakur and Charles FullerCrimes Charged: Sexual abuse, sodomy, and illegal possession of a firearmChief Defense Lawyer: Michael WarrenChief Prosecutor: Francine JamesJudge: Daniel P. FitzgeraldPlace: New York, New YorkDates of Trial: November-December 1994Verdict: Guilty of sexual abuse; acquitted on the two other chargesSentence: Shakur: 18 months to 4 and one-half years impriso…
Plaintiff: Sidney E. ZionDefendants: The New York Hospital, Maurice Leonard, M.D., Raymond Sherman, M.D., Gregg Stone, M.D., and Luise Weinstein, M.D.Crime Charged: Medical malpractice resulting in wrongful deathChief Defense Lawyers: Francis P. Bensel, Peter T. Crean, Luke M. Pittoni, and Keith C. ThompsonChief Lawyers for Plaintiff: David Bamberger, Cheryl Bulbach, Judith Livingston, and Thomas …
By October 1997, the Paula Jones case was getting funding from the Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending civil liberties. That month, Rutherford received three anonymous phone calls from a woman who said President Clinton might have had an affair with a woman named Monica Lewinsky. The Rutherford lawyers realized that such a person could be a valuable witness for Jo…
Defendant: Oliver Laurence NorthCrimes Charged: Obstruction of justice, corruption, and perjuryChief Defense Lawyers: Barry Simon and Brendan V. Sullivan, Jr.Chief Prosecutors: Michael Bromwich, John Keker, and David ZornowJudge: Gerhard GesellPlace: Washington, D.C.Dates of Trial: January 31-May 4, 1989Verdict: Guilty, 3 counts; Not guilty, 9 countsSentence: $150,000 fine, 2 years probation, 1,20…
Defendants: Patricia Gros Levasseur, Raymond Luc Levasseur, Richard C. WilliamsCrimes Charged: Seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government; racketeering; conspiracy to engage in racketeeringChief Defense Lawyers: Peter Avenia, Robert Boyle, Elizabeth Fink, Kenneth J. King, William NewmanChief Prosecutors: David Douglass, Michael K. LoucksJudge: William G. YoungPlace: Springfield, Massachusett…
Appellant: State of TexasDefendant: Gregory Lee JohnsonAppellant Claim: That the Texas statute against "desecration of venerated objects," in this instance burning an American flag, did not violate Gregory Lee Johnson's constitutional rightsChief Defense Lawyer: William M. KunstlerChief Lawyer for Appellant: Kathi Alyce DrewJustices: Harry A. Blackmun, William J. Brennan, Jr.,…
Defendant: Leona HelmsleyCrimes Charged: 47 criminal offenses concerning conspiracy, tax evasion, filing false tax returns, mail fraud, and extortionChief Defense Lawyer: Gerald A. FefferChief Prosecutors: James R. DeVita and Rudolph GiulianiJudge: John M. WalkerPlace: New York, New YorkDates of Trial: June 26-August 30, 1989Verdict: Guilty on 33 countsSentence: 4 years in prison and more than $7 …
Defendant: Jim BakkerCrime Charged: Fraud and conspiracyChief Defense Lawyers: Harold Bender and George T. DavisChief Prosecutors: Jerry Miller and Deborah SmithJudge: Robert D. PotterPlace: Charlotte, North CarolinaDates of Trial: August 21-October 5, 1989Verdict: GuiltySentence: 45 years imprisonment and $500,000 fine SIGNIFICANCE: This trial marked the first prosecution of a television evangeli…
Defendant: Pete RoseCrime Charged: Filing false tax returnsChief Defense Lawyers: Reuven Katz, Roger J. Makley, and Robert Pitcairn, Jr.Chief Prosecutors: G. Michael Crites and William E. HuntJudge: S. Arthur SpiegelPlace: Cincinnati, OhioDate of Trial: April 20, 1990Verdict: GuiltySentence: 5 months' imprisonment, 3 months in a community treatment center or halfway house, $50,000 fine, and…
Defendants: Joseph Fama, Keith MondelloCrimes Charged: Riot, unlawful imprisonment, discrimination, murderChief Defense Lawyers: Mondello: Stephen Murphy; Fama: David DePetrisChief Prosecutor: Paul BurnsJudge: Thaddeus OwensPlace: Brooklyn, Kings County, New YorkDate of Trial: May-June 11, 1990Verdicts: Fama: guilty of murder in the second degree (manslaughter), guilty of riot; Mondello: not guilt…
Defendant: Marion Barry, Jr.Crime Charged: Drug offenses (14 counts)Chief Defense Lawyers: Robert Mance and Kenneth MundyChief Prosecutors: Judith Retchin and Richard RobertsJudge: Thomas Penfield JacksonPlace: Washington, D.C.Dates of Trial: June 4-August 10, 1990Verdict: Guilty on 1 count of cocaine possession; Not guilty on 1 count; Mistrial on remaining 12 countsSentence: 6 months imprisonment…
Defendants: First trial: Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr.; second trial: Kevin Richardson and Kharey WiseCrimes Charged: First trial: Second-degree attempted murder, rape, sodomy, first and second-degree assault, robbery, riot; second trial: all of the above, plus sexual abuseChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: Robert Burns, Michael Joseph, Peter Rivera; second trial: Howard Diller…
Defendants: Dennis Barrie and the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts CenterCrime Charged: Displaying obscene material, namely pictures by the artist Robert MapplethorpeChief Defense Lawyers: Marc D. Mezibov and H. LouisSirkin Chief Prosecutors: Richard A. Castellini, Frank H. Prouty, Jr., and Melanie J. ReisingJudge: F. David J. AlbanesePlace: Cincinnati, OhioDates of Trial: September 24-October 5, 1990…
Defendant: George FranklinCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Douglas Horngrad and Arthur WachtelChief Prosecutor: Elaine TiptonJudge: Thomas McGinn SmithPlace: Redwood City, CaliforniaDates of Trial: October 31, 1990-January 29, 1991Verdict: Guilty (overturned on appeal)Sentence: Life imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: The trial of George Franklin raised the troubling question of how far courts a…
Plaintiff: Otakar KirchnerDefendants: Jay and Kimberly WarburtonChief Defense Lawyer: Richard LifshitzChief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Loren HeinemanJudges: Dom J. Rizzi and Ann G. McMorrowPlace: Chicago, IllinoisDates of Trials: 1991-1995Verdict: For the plaintiff: custody of the child Baby Richard awarded to his biological father, Otakar Kirchner SIGNIFICANCE: The Baby Richard case elicited public ou…
Defendant: Carolyn WarmusCrime Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: First trial: David L. Lewis; second trial: William I. AronwaldChief Prosecutors: Douglas J. Fitzmorris and James A. McCartyJudge: John CareyPlace: White Plains, New YorkDates of Trials: First Trial: January 14—April 27, 1991; second trial: January 22-May 27, 1992Verdicts: First trial: mistrial; second trial: guiltySentence…
Defendant: Pamela SmartCrime Charged: Conspiracy to commit murderChief Defense Lawyers: Mark Sisti and Paul TwomeyChief Prosecutors: Paul Maggiotto and Diane NicolosiJudge: Douglas R. GrayPlace: Exeter, New HampshireDates of Trial: March 4-22, 1991Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: Millions watched this trial on live television, fascinated by the sensational saga of a murdero…
Defendant: Wanda Webb HollowayCrimes Charged: Solicitation of capital murder and solicitation of aggravated kidnappingChief Defense Lawyers: Troy McKinney and Stanley SchneiderChief Prosecutors: Mike Anderson and Casey O'BrienJudge: George H. GodwinPlace: Houston, TexasDates of Trial: August 23-September 4, 1991Verdict: GuiltySentence: 15 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine (later overtur…
Defendant: Manuel Antonio NoriegaCrime Charged: Drug trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracyChief Defense Lawyers: Jon May and Frank A. RubinoChief Prosecutors: James McAdams, Myles Malman, and Michael P. SullivanJudge: William M. HoevelerPlace: Miami, FloridaDates of Trial: September 6, 1991-April 9, 1992Verdict: GuiltySentence: 40 years imprisonment SIGNIFICANCE: This landmark trial marked the…
Defendant: George Walterfield Russell, Jr.Crimes Charged: MurderChief Defense Lawyers: Miriam Schwartz, Brad HamptonChief Prosecutors: Rebecca Roe, Jeffrey BairdJudge: Patricia AitkenPlace: Seattle, WashingtonDate of Trial: September 13-October 18, 1991Verdict: GuiltySentence: Life in prison without parole SIGNIFICANCE: Winning a conviction in Washington State's first serial-murder trial ul…
Defendant: El Sayyid A. NosairCrime Charged: Murder, attempted murder, and assaultChief Defense Lawyers: William M. Kunstler and Michael WarrenChief Prosecutor: William GreenbaumJudge: Alvin SchlesingerPlace: New York, New YorkDates of Trial: November 4-December 21, 1991Verdict: Not guilty, murder, and attempted murder; Guilty, assault with a deadly weaponSentence: 7-22 years imprisonment SIGNIFIC…
Defendant: Charles F. Keating, Jr.Crimes Charged: First trial: Securities fraud; Second trial: fraud, conspiracy, racketeeringChief Defense Lawyers: Stephen C. Neal; several other attorneys have represented him over the course of his many civil and criminal trialsChief Prosecutor: William Hodgman; several others have prosecuted him at the state and federal levelJudge: Lance A. ItoPlace: Los Angele…
