Leslie Abramson had a “take no prisoners” mentality.
Over the course of her decades-long profession, the lawyer defended a number of high-profile shoppers, together with Erik Menendez in each of his homicide trials. Her likeness and techniques through the trials have been represented in two fictionalized collection: Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders and Netflix’s 2024 Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
In a 1990 article titled “Nightmare on Elm Drive,” Vanity Fair reporter Dominick Dunne famous Abramson’s popularity because the “most good Los Angeles protection lawyer for death-row instances” and mentioned she was each “fearless and hard” out and in of the courtroom.
“She likes to intimidate folks,” Dunne mentioned he heard from a supply. “She thrives on it. She is aware of when she has you. She will twist and switch a witness’s reminiscence like nobody else can.”
Right here’s every thing to find out about Leslie Abramson, together with her relationship with the Menendez brothers and the place she is immediately.
When did Leslie Abramson change into a lawyer?
Abramson, who was born in 1943 in Queens, N.Y., attended regulation college at UCLA and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1970. She spent six years working as a public defender earlier than opening her non-public observe.
In 1996, the Los Angeles Times wrote: “She spent her working life constructing a popularity as a 4-foot-11, fire-eating, mud-slinging, nuclear-strength ache within the authorized butt.”
Abramson seemingly agreed with this sentiment, telling The Washington Post in 1996, “My function mannequin is Joan of Arc, and anybody else who’s been burned on the stake.”
What high-profile shoppers did Leslie Abramson defend?
Previous to representing the Menendez brothers, Abramson was concerned in a number of high-profile instances.
In 1988, she was 17-year-old Arnel Salvatierra’s protection lawyer. Salvatierra was discovered responsible of voluntary manslaughter (lowered from the unique first-degree homicide cost) after capturing his father 3 times within the face. Due to Abramson, who claimed her defendant’s father abused him, Salvatierra was finally acquitted in 1989 and given 5 years probation, per UPI.
She additionally represented Dr. Khalid Parwez — a Pakistani-born gynecologist who was arrested in 1987 for allegedly strangling and dismembering his 11-year-old son amid an alleged custody battle. The jury discovered him not responsible in 1990, per UPI.
After the Menendez trials, Abramson returned to the courtroom in 2004 to characterize music producer Phil Spector, who was accused of killing actress Lana Clarkson. She later resigned from the case for “moral causes,” in accordance with CBS News, and Spector was convicted of homicide in 2009.
What protection technique did Leslie Abramson use through the Menendez trials?
After efficiently representing Salvatierra, it is no shock that Abramson took on the strikingly related Menendez case.
In 1989, Erik and Lyle have been arrested for murdering their mother and father, José and Kitty Menendez, after allegedly being mentally, bodily and sexually abused all through their lives.
In the course of the first trial, which started in 1993, the Menendez brothers have been tried collectively however had separate juries. Abramson took the lead in defending Erik, whereas protection legal professional Jill Lansing represented Lyle utilizing the identical technique.
Each Lansing and Abramson argued imperfect self-defense — claiming that the brothers actually believed that in the event that they did not kill José and Kitty then their mother and father would finally kill them. The trial resulted in a hung jury.
The second trial started in 1995. By that point, the Menendez brothers’ property had run out of cash, so Abramson agreed to characterize Erik professional bono, and a public defender, Charles Gessler, was assigned to Lyle. The brothers have been tried collectively in entrance of a single jury, who finally convicted each Lyle and Erik on two counts of first-degree homicide. They have been sentenced to life in jail with out parole in 1996.
Abramson allegedly grew very near the brothers, particularly Erik, whereas serving on their protection group. Dunne even quoted her saying that the brothers have been “lovely” and the “best shoppers I’ve ever had.”
Abramson additionally advised The Washington Submit, “I’ve represented folks charged with homicide for 27 years, and these guys simply do not measure as much as anyone else I’ve ever represented. These usually are not murderers. These are troubled children in a really troublesome and grotesque residence surroundings, and so they cracked.”
On the day of their sentencing, Lyle married Anna Eriksson and Abramson took half within the ceremony.
She was outraged when Lyle and Erik have been convicted of homicide, particularly after she discovered that the brothers can be housed in separate prisons. She known as it “exceedingly merciless and heartless,” in accordance with The Standard-Times.
Who was Leslie Abramson’s husband?
Abramson was married to a pharmacist, whom she divorced in 1969, earlier than marrying Los Angeles Occasions reporter Tim Rutten.
In keeping with court documents, she filed for divorce from Rutten in 2007.
Does Leslie Abramson have kids?
The protection legal professional had one baby, a daughter named Laine, along with her first husband. Then, within the midst of the primary Menendez trial, Abramson and Rutten adopted a son.
“My capacity to really feel maternal about all types of individuals, to need to care for them, I feel has partly made me successful in court. I feel should you do not care, the jury is aware of it,” she advised Barbara Walters in 1994.
The place is Leslie Abramson now?
Following the Menendez trial, Abramson was investigated by the California State Bar after she allegedly requested witness and psychiatrist Dr. William Vicary to “alter” his notes concerning Erik. Misconduct fees weren’t pursued as a consequence of inadequate proof, per The New York Times.
The allegations did imply that Abramson was “gagged” and never allowed to ship a closing argument within the Menendez brothers’ case.
“This case was extremely disturbing the primary time round, and was monstrous the second time,” she advised The Washington Submit. “Definitely this will likely be my final capital case for some time. I would like a breather from this. However by the identical token, I am not able to do nothing.”
Abramson defended greater than 50 folks accused of homicide and revealed a e book titled The Protection Is Prepared: Life In The Trenches Of Felony Regulation earlier than retiring. In keeping with the State Bar of California, Abramson’s authorized license was energetic till 2023 — with a short pause in 2013.