Attorney Al Krieger- who became part of our local bar later in his career, commanded every courtroom he walked into. His cross examinations were conducted with a surgeon’s scalpel and delivered with a bulldog growl.
He was born in Manhattan in 1923, attended New York University on a football
scholarship, graduating in 1945. After a brief Army stint, he earned his LL.B.
from NYU School of Law in 1949. And from there, he went on to have a sixty-year
career in the law.
He started by defending OC figures in NYC including Joe
Bonanno in the 1960s, and famously John Gotti in 1992. His cross examination of
the turncoat/rat in that case was
legendary.
But to us, Al Krieger became the GOAT when he- pro bono- defended
approximately 150 defendants of the American Indian Movement after they
occupied Wounded Knee in 1973. He obtained dismissals or acquittals for nearly
all defendants. This was an achievement that ranks as the very best in the
history of American Criminal defense. From this point on Al Krieger was a
superstar.
Al Krieger was a founding member and president
(1979–1980) of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
and also helped to establish the National Criminal Defense College in
Macon, Georgia, in 1985, training generations of defense attorneys.
Al Krieger received the NACDL Lifetime Achievement Award
and Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award, as well as the ABA Charles R.
English Award.
Albert J. Krieger’s name remains synonymous with courage,
integrity, and excellence in criminal defense—a “lawyer’s lawyer” whose
advocacy helped elevate the defense bar to a position of national respect and
influence.
So where do we put him?
He was every bit the trial lawyer of Lee Bailey(3) and Roy Black (2). It’s like asking where do
you put DiMaggio in an outfield of Mays, Aaron and Clemente?
So we leave you with this – the top three criminal defense attorneys
of the last 50 years were Spence, Krieger, Bailey and Black. You figure it out.
12 comments:
A Jew who played college football. Quite an exclusive club to belong to.
how about Duke Snieder?
Michele Borchew is a fantastic
Defense Attorney.
Chasing the “best” criminal defense attorney is a pointless quest. It’s not about finding some rockstar with a golden tongue. There are hundreds of us—damn good lawyers—who wake up at 4 a.m., grind late into the night, prep for trial, nail cross-examinations, and fight hard for not guilty verdicts. This fixation on “top 10” lists or slick courtroom drama is just elitist hype. It’s like saying only a few mechanics can fix a car right. Great defense attorneys are out there daily, pouring their hearts into cases, winning without fanfare. Stop trying to rank us like we’re in a talent show. The real champs are in the trenches, not chasing fame. Let’s honor the many who deliver, not some made-up “best.”
Has anyone won a civil lawsuit against KFR?
Let's not forget that Albert was one of Roy Black's mentors. Very cool. All legends.
Pre-integration college football was a little different. I imagine he’d say the same. I met Albert Krieger when he was on faculty at the National Criminal Defense College in Macon GA. Was probably 2006 and I had only been a lawyer for a couple years. He was sort of an emeritus presence around the place but you could easily see how he could command a courtroom.
How about John Sinns. He’s had one of the most prolific legal careers.
Well done! Albert was a gem! But what about Jay Hogan? Little known fact: John Gotti first tried to hire Jay Hogan to represent him. But Jay, who was in trial in Tampa [with later to be Federal Judge Bobby Scola] in the BCCI case turned down Gotti’s offer as he was too busy (the Tampa trial lasted several months). Word is that Gotti asked Jay who he would recommend he hire and, without hesitation, Jay said Albert.
I just want to say our very own Jason Pizzo (former ASA) will be the next governor of Florida.
I like him. He’s very smart.
Good morning fellow litigators it’s a great day to “win at all cost”.
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