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| The only thing missing is his little black book. |
Sy Gaer, a legendary REGJB lawyer, perhaps THE legendary REGJB lawyer, passed away today in 2007. It’s good that we remember him. As Roy Black, no stranger to legendary status himself told the Wall Street Journal (yeah they reported Sy’s passing!) Sy was a dinosaur from a time when lawyers didn’t run to the prosecutors office to beg for a plea. “He wasn’t afraid to try a case” said Roy, opining that was the greatest compliment you could bestow on a criminal defense attorney.
For those of you Gen Zers, here is a brief glimpse into Sy’s shtick.
ASA: We are moving to revoke the defendant’s bond. Since his first case, he’s been arrested and bonded out two more times in the last two weeks.
Sy: If that isn’t the clearest evidence of police harassment I don’t know what is.
——-
Sy: I’m here today in court to prevent a tragedy occurring for this poor child.
Judge : How old is your client ?
Sy: 23
Judge: Your client is no child.
Sy: I have suits older than her
……
We could go on and on. But Sy was no buffoon as generations of young prosecutors found out again and again. He was sharp in trial and he connected with jurors. He knew the law, believe it or not. True he didn’t take depositions. But he read the FLW every week, although he would never admit it.
One longtime REGJB lawyer tells the story of when he was an ASA, Sy showing up for a drug trafficking case, “borrowing” a legal pad and proceeding to kick his butt in trial.
Sy was more than a lawyer or as some would say a caricature of a lawyer. He was Marine who was in the legendary Korean War battle at the Chosin Reservior. Like many war veterans, it was not something he ever spoke about. He also was a published author. He wrote pulp fiction novels in the 1970s. If anyone has one, please please contact us
Sy had a good heart. He would talk to anyone, give advice when asked, buy a poor ASA or PD a drink or dinner at the Alibi lounge after work, and throw a struggling defense attorney a case when they needed help. He was a legend in our building and remains in our heart. He was a good man and we miss him most every day we walk into the courthouse.
Here is the article Susannah Nesmith wrote about Sy when she was a crusading journalist for the Herald.
10 comments:
Sy: “Your Honor, allow me approach the podium while I’m still emotionally able…”
Judge: “Mr. Gaer, have you reviewed the State’s plea offer with your client?”
Sy: “Judge, that was not a plea offer. It was a declaration of war!”
In a perfect world, if they ever made a movie about Sy, Walter Matthau would play the role.
Loved Sy. Loved having drinks with him in the Alibi. I always tried to buy him one. He was so appreciative.
Changing topics. Palantir 52 week low is $26.50. It’s currently 175. Did you miss the train on this one Rumpola?
I saw him try a case with Shumie. The dynamic duo.
Sy had an insanity defense. He raised it in voir dire. Jurors were typically hostile saying things like “oh so you want me to let him off on some legal technicality?” Sy was masterful dismantling their hostility and got an NGI verdict on a case where his client chopped his wife’s arm off with a machete. He was a great trial lawyer.
Sy called me a “sarcastic cynical ensnaring fact-facturing prosecutor” in closing argument and got a not guilty. I bought him a round at the Alibi that night. I loved working in a building that he was in.
What a character. I loved the always called me "kid" even though I was in my 60's. One of my favorite Sy Gaer's lines "That's not a plea offer, that a declaration of war". Would love to hear other favorite one liners of his. I also was told that in the 70's when he was in trial, you could hear him screaming in the halls .
Legendary.
. When I was a pd I averaged 10 trials a year. I tried 16 duis my first year. The new generation of pds average 2 trials a year at most. Sy tried 50 trials a year.
He sure was
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