User:ContessaEK/sandbox

Michael John Kennedy

Michael John Kennedy (March 23rd, 1937 - January 25th, 2016), was an American civil rights attorney for more than 50 years. A champion of the First Amendment, Michael's client list includes Dr. Huey P. Newtown co-founder of the Black Panther Party, The Brotherhood of Eternal Love, Timothy Leary, Bernardine Dohrn of The Weather Underground, Bruce Beyer of The Buffalo Nine, Cesar Chavez and the migrant farmer worker's union, the IRA, the Young Lords, and Native American protestors at Wounded Knee, ND. Additionally, Michael represented and won an acquittal for Los Siete de la Raza, the seven young men charged with killing a San Francisco police officer in 1969. Michael specialized in civil and criminal litigation and complex negotiations. Additionally, Michael served as the special advisor to the United Nations' General Assembly President, Father Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann. Kennedy also advised the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime.

Mr. Kennedy graduated from University of California at Berkeley and Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He was a member of the Bars of the State of California and New York. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits. He was also admitted to a number of United States District Courts.

Michael's record includes the successful defenses of Native Americans at Wounded Knee, IRA gun-runners in Brooklyn, Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party in Oakland and Bernardine Dohrn of the Weather Underground, securing her release from civil contempt confinement, after surfacing her in Chicago. He represented Rennie Davis of the Chicago 8, and the Godfather in the Pizza Connection trial. In January of 1993, he finally won clemency for Jean Harris. He secured Hamas' Political Bureau Leader, Dr. Mousa Abu Marzook's release, and has represented Susan McDougal who had been jailed for refusing to give evidence to the Whitewater Special Counsel. He was New York counsel for many Phen-fen claimants and represented the family of Haywood Burns in a South African wrongful death action. He successfully defended James Mitchell in San Francisco on the charge of murdering his brother, Artie. The trial involved some of the most modern and sophisticated criminal issues in a homicide trial.

When Iran-Contra conspirator Richard Secord brought a $36 million libel suit against Leslie and Andrew Cockburn for their book, "Out of Control", the Cockburns hired Kennedy. After two years of court battles, Secord's lawsuit was dismissed.

Mr. Kennedy represented former A.U.S.A. William Johnston, the Waco whistle-blower, who was indicted for obstruction of justice. He also represented the estate of Shana Alexander, "Bible Code" author, Michael Drosnin, and assorted writers and filmmakers and the Amazing Randi.

Michael worked closely with NORML in addition to serving as the General Counsel and Chairman of the Board for High Times Magazine and related companies for more than 40 years while fighting the marijuana prohibition laws for over 40 years.