When you think of famous lawyers and legal representatives, for many of us the first thoughts go to, “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” the famous quip from Johnny Cochrane, defense lawyer for O.J. Simpson. Throughout history, and in contemporary times, the more famous of lawyers tend to be the ones with a flair for showmanship, media-manipulation and a sense of aggrandized ego. These things combine to help propel these famed counselors into the stratosphere of legal wrangling.
Modern Day Criminal Defense Famous Lawyers
When it comes to modern and contemporary lawyers at the top of their game, a few logical names pop out. Gerry Spence, the defense attorney from the Wild West, known for wearing suede fringed cowboy jackets to the court-room stands out. F. Lee Bailey commanded a fear in prosecutors and was known for his brilliant litigation skills. Alan Dershowitz is both a successful criminal defense and constitutional lawyer that has achieved top status in the legal profession. Robert Shapiro must also be included in this legal dream team, as his work in defense and constitutional law is ground breaking.
What separates these attorneys out of the multitudes in their tenacity and attention to detail? Coupled with their legal acumen, they were and are able to move through the legal system tying knots in the prosecutor’s case. One of the most famous examples of these lawyers is the aforementioned O.J. Simpson defense where Mr. Cochrane successfully defended Mr. Simpson even in the case of overwhelming evidence that should Simpson was as guilty as original sin. In addition, almost all of the famous lawyers are authors; many selling hundreds of thousands of copies of their books.
It is worth mentioning how Robert Shapiro defended porn actress Linda Lovelace in a ground breaking First Amendment case that opened new ground for the nation vis-à-vis free speech and expression. In addition to the Lovelace case, Mr. Shapiro has been named “Defense Counsel of the Year” in 1994, and has represented sports figures such as Jose Canseco, Darryl Strawberry and Vince Coleman in drug cases, successfully.
Another famous lawyer is Gerry Spence, who gained his fame and status from the infamous Silkwood case, where a nuclear power plat knowingly exposed workers to great harm. His arguments set the stage for industry-wide changes and worker safety throughout the nation. No small feat for a man from the wild western states. In addition, Spence gained notoriety due to his staff of researchers and his acumen at finding old precedent cases that are applied to today’s complex legal issues. He is also a well known and regarded author of several books on the American legal system. Spence is a feared adversary in the court room, with prosecutors pushed to their limits during litigation against him.
This was a partial list of famous lawyers- great legal minds.