Linda Fairstein
Encyclopedia
Linda Fairstein is an American feminist author and former prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes
unit of the Manhattan District Attorney
's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.
(1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law
(1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several controversial and highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder
" case against Robert Chambers in 1986 and the "Central Park Jogger" case in 1990 (see below). Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, and Larry King, among others. Fairstein has consulted for a number of media outlets during a number of high profile prosecutions including Michael Jackson
's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant
's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She was the founder of the Domestic Violence Committee of the New York Women's Agenda
. She is a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
s obtained from the five teens in 1989. Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Kharey Wise signed written confessions, while the fifth suspect, Yousef Salaam, made a verbal confession. All five accused teenagers later claimed their confessions were coerced during interrogation through lies and intimidation. Notwithstanding their claims of innocence, in 1990 the "central park five" were convicted of various assault and sexual battery charges based on the confession evidence. All five convictions were vacated in 2002 after convicted rapist Matias Reyes confessed to the crime. DNA testing of semen found on the victim confirmed that Reyes was the sole contributor of DNA found on the victim, to a certainty of 6 billion to 1. In 2003, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana Jr., and Antron McCray sued the city of New York for malicious prosecution
, racial discrimination
and emotional distress
. The suit is yet to be settled. In 2009, Ken Burns
has announced plans to make a film about the case, which he compares to the Scottsboro Boys
case. He refers to the wrongly convicted as the "Central Park Five".
, malicious abuse of process and denial of his right to a fair trial". This lawsuit stemmed from Fairstein's successful prosecution of Jovanovic in the case People v. Jovanovic
that was subsequently overturned on appeal, and then dismissed with prejudice
by a new trial judge. The dismissal was requested "in the interest of justice" by the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau.
The $10 million lawsuit against Fairstein and two co-defendants, former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Gail Heatherly, who now teaches at the Columbia Law School
, and New York City Police Detective Milton Bonilla, was dismissed on summary judgment in September, 2010. As of October 2010, it is unclear whether Jovanovic will appeal the grant of summary judgment.
The titles are:
She has also written a non-fiction book, Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (1993).
Sex and the law
In general, laws proscribe acts which are considered either sexual abuse, or behavior that societies consider to be inappropriate and against the social norms. In addition, certain categories of activity may be considered crimes even if freely consented to...
unit of the Manhattan District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.
Career
Fairstein graduated with honors from Vassar CollegeVassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
(1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
(1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several controversial and highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder
Robert Chambers (killer)
Robert Emmet Chambers, Jr. , nicknamed the "Preppie Killer", is an American who pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin...
" case against Robert Chambers in 1986 and the "Central Park Jogger" case in 1990 (see below). Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, and Larry King, among others. Fairstein has consulted for a number of media outlets during a number of high profile prosecutions including Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She was the founder of the Domestic Violence Committee of the New York Women's Agenda
New York Women's Agenda
The New York Women’s Agenda is an umbrella organization of women's groups in the New York City metropolitan area. Its membership consists of both nonprofit women's organizations and individuals.-About NYWA:...
. She is a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Wrongful conviction and the central park jogger case
Fairstein's office supervised the prosecution of the Central Park Jogger case in 1989, which ended in the wrongful conviction of five teenagers. The convictions in the case relied heavily on false confessionFalse confession
A false confession is an admission of guilt in a crime in which the confessor is not responsible for the crime. False confessions can be induced through coercion or by the mental disorder or incompetency of the accused...
s obtained from the five teens in 1989. Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Kharey Wise signed written confessions, while the fifth suspect, Yousef Salaam, made a verbal confession. All five accused teenagers later claimed their confessions were coerced during interrogation through lies and intimidation. Notwithstanding their claims of innocence, in 1990 the "central park five" were convicted of various assault and sexual battery charges based on the confession evidence. All five convictions were vacated in 2002 after convicted rapist Matias Reyes confessed to the crime. DNA testing of semen found on the victim confirmed that Reyes was the sole contributor of DNA found on the victim, to a certainty of 6 billion to 1. In 2003, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana Jr., and Antron McCray sued the city of New York for malicious prosecution
Malicious prosecution
Malicious prosecution is a common law intentional tort, while like the tort of abuse of process, its elements include intentionally instituting and pursuing a legal action that is brought without probable cause and dismissed in favor of the victim of the malicious prosecution...
, racial discrimination
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and emotional distress
Emotional distress
Mental distress or anxiety suffered as a response to a sudden, severe, and saddening experience.Emotional distress may refer to:* Law of torts:** Intentional infliction of emotional distress** Negligent infliction of emotional distress* Medicine:...
. The suit is yet to be settled. In 2009, Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
has announced plans to make a film about the case, which he compares to the Scottsboro Boys
Scottsboro Boys
The Scottsboro Boys were nine black teenage boys accused of rape in Alabama in 1931. The landmark set of legal cases from this incident dealt with racism and the right to a fair trial...
case. He refers to the wrongly convicted as the "Central Park Five".
Jovanovic controversy
Fairstein was sued by Oliver Jovanovic. The lawsuit alleged that Fairstein engaged in "false arrest, malicious prosecutionMalicious prosecution
Malicious prosecution is a common law intentional tort, while like the tort of abuse of process, its elements include intentionally instituting and pursuing a legal action that is brought without probable cause and dismissed in favor of the victim of the malicious prosecution...
, malicious abuse of process and denial of his right to a fair trial". This lawsuit stemmed from Fairstein's successful prosecution of Jovanovic in the case People v. Jovanovic
People v. Jovanovic
People v. Jovanovic, 263 A.D.2d 182, 700 N.Y.S.2d 156 , was a highly publicized criminal case in New York. In 1996, Oliver Jovanovic was accused of sadomasochistic torture of a woman whom he had met shortly before on the Internet...
that was subsequently overturned on appeal, and then dismissed with prejudice
Prejudice (law)
There are two meanings for "prejudice" in legal proceedings; civil and criminal.-Civil procedure:Within legal civil procedure, prejudice is a loss or injury, and refers specifically to a formal determination against a claimed legal right or cause of action. Thus, in a civil case, dismissal without...
by a new trial judge. The dismissal was requested "in the interest of justice" by the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau.
The $10 million lawsuit against Fairstein and two co-defendants, former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Gail Heatherly, who now teaches at the Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, and New York City Police Detective Milton Bonilla, was dismissed on summary judgment in September, 2010. As of October 2010, it is unclear whether Jovanovic will appeal the grant of summary judgment.
Publications
Fairstein is the internationally best-selling author of a series of crime novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper. The novels draw on Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.The titles are:
- Final Jeopardy (1996)
- Likely To Die (1997)
- Cold Hit (1999)
- The Deadhouse (2001) (Nero AwardNero AwardThe Nero Award is a literary award for excellence in the mystery genre presented by The Wolfe Pack, a society founded in 1978 to explore and celebrate the Nero Wolfe stories of Rex Stout...
winner) - The Bone Vault (2003)
- The Kills (2004)
- Entombed (2005)
- Death Dance (2006)
- Bad Blood (2007)
- Killer Heat (2008)
- Lethal Legacy (2009)
- Hell Gate (2010)
- Silent Mercy (March 2011)
She has also written a non-fiction book, Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (1993).