The top criminal defense attorney in the United States over the last fifty years can only be one person" GERRY SPENCE.
1. Gerry Spence
The Wyoming philosopher-cowboy who never lost a criminal
jury trial. He wore buckskins, spoke plain, and made jurors cry while the
prosecutor clutched their exhibits like rosary beads. His closing in the Karen
Silkwood case and his defense of Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge still teach us the
gospel of story over statute.
What Spence understood was that every case and every client is a story- and he was better at telling that story than anyone else. He understood that a story a juror could relate to was more powerful than any prosecution witness testifying that his client did something and the law prohibited it. Spence had the kind of talent and genius that could not be taught. He never lost a case, and he must be number one.
BUT, then we realized we had a BIG problem. A massive bulldog of a problem because there is one obvious name left off this list.
A criminal defense attorney who had broad shoulders and deep courtroom growl. A lawyer who never walked away from a fight for his client, and won most of them. He had a towering intellect, and despite his gruff appearance and demeanor, he was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
No, not Sy Gaer, who just missed our list at 11. And not Alex Michaels, who makes any top ten list of best criminal defense attorneys in Florida. And not the guy who works on top of a garage, because as talented and dedicated as he is, his story is far from over.
So the attorney we have to somehow squeeze on to the top ten without removing anyone...
Will be revealed tomorrow.
THIS BULL SHEET IM BEST LAWYER. I WAS TARGET OF SAO CORRUPTION. GANG UNIT ABUSE OF POWER. VINDICATE ME.
ReplyDeleteI can think of two who should be on your list: Al Krieger and Jay Hogan.
ReplyDeleteThe log on tomorrow and see.
DeleteI was associated and worked with Jay Hogan for five years in the late seventies. George Gold shared space with us on South Miami Avenue.George was the whole package.He was superb in every aspect of the criminal law.Had he lived longer he would certainly be in this conversation,maybe on top.He was only 32, when shot and murdered one night in our office building,the Colombian hit men looking for someone else. We should honor his memory here.I am better for having him as my friend.
ReplyDeleteColumbian hit men? Don’t you mean Miami cops?!
DeleteAndy Boros?
ReplyDeleteRump, I believe the name you left out is Richard Sharpstein.
ReplyDeleteYou have a Top Ten list of criminal defense lawyers, some of whom are dead. How many new criminal cases are filed each year? 100,000? A million? The typical criminal defendant in Florida gets a plea lawyer, if they are lucky. Otherwise a criminal defendant may get a shill for the prosecution lawyer posing as a defense counsel. The JAC pays less than $1,000 to a defense lawyer to represent a client. What's your rate to defend a 3rd degree felony?
ReplyDeleteThe Pew research center shows fewer than 1% of federal criminal defendants were acquitted in 2022 https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/14/fewer-than-1-of-defendants-in-federal-criminal-cases-were-acquitted-in-2022/
I hope this series of defense attorney posts makes you feel good. But the defense bar has no incentive for a reduction in crime or criminal prosecutions. It's how you make your money.
ALEX MICHEALS! IM BEST LAWYER! GANG UNIT SET ME UP. THIS BULL SHEEET !!!
ReplyDeleteIM BEST LAWYER! BULL SHEET. I WAS TARGET FOR BEING BEST LAWYER.
DeleteWho handled the impossible cases on the "wheel" . Who would the sao say who they feared? Roy Black should be at the head of the list but there are others. Ask the murder division or KFR who scared the %#*! out of them?
ReplyDeleteAPDs Zamora and del Valle
DeleteHow did Lionel Hutz not make the list???? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtVllgTPyfk
ReplyDelete