Michael Tigar
Encyclopedia
Michael E. Tigar is an American
criminal defense attorney
known for representing controversial clients. He is also a member of the Duke Law School faculty.
from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1962 and his J.D.
from the Berkeley Law in 1966. As an undergraduate, he was elected to the Associated Students board as a SLATE
candidate. In law school he was a member of Order of the Coif
and served as editor-in-chief of the California Law Review
.
of Washington, DC (1976–'78), where he worked underneath legendary trial attorney Edward Bennett Williams, and has been a professor at American University
's Washington College of Law
since 1998 [Association of American Law Schools Directory of Law Teachers 2007-08, p.1095].
In his teaching, he has worked with law students in clinical programs where students are counsel or law clerks in significant human rights
litigation. He has made several trips to South Africa
, working with organizations of African lawyers engaged in the struggle to end apartheid, and after the release of Nelson Mandela
from prison, to lecture on human rights issues and to advise the African National Congress
on issues in drafting a new constitution. He has been actively involved in efforts to bring to justice members of the Chilean junta, including former President Pinochet. Of Mr. Tigar’s career, Justice William J. Brennan has written that his “tireless striving for justice stretches his arms towards perfection.”
In 1999, the California
Attorneys for Criminal Justice held a ballot for “Lawyer of the Century.” Mr. Tigar was third in the balloting, behind Clarence Darrow
and Thurgood Marshall
. In 2003, the Texas Civil Rights Project named its new building in Austin, Texas, (purchased with a gift from attorney Wayne Reaud) the “Michael Tigar Human Rights Center.” Tigar's return to the courtroom for a last full-blown trial, in 2004-05, was in defense of a fellow left-oriented activist criminal-defense lawyer, Lynne Stewart
, which was an exhausting ordeal and ultimately a demoralizing loss.
He is Professor of the Practice of Law at Duke Law Schoolhttp://www.law.duke.edu/fac/tigar/. He has been visiting professor at the law faculty of the Universite Paul Cezanne, Aix-en-Provence
, and has lectured at law schools in several countries.
Tigar has argued seven cases before the United States Supreme Court, and over 100 federal appellate cases. He has tried cases in all parts of the United States. In addition to activist clients, he has represented Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
, Rep. Ronald Dellums, Rep. John M. Murphy
(during the Abscam scandal
), former Gov. John Connally
, Fantasy Films and Mobil Oil.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
criminal defense attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
known for representing controversial clients. He is also a member of the Duke Law School faculty.
Early life and education
Tigar earned his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1962 and his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Berkeley Law in 1966. As an undergraduate, he was elected to the Associated Students board as a SLATE
SLATE
SLATE, a pioneer organization of the New Left and precursor of the Free Speech Movement, was a campus political party at the University of California, Berkeley from 1958 to 1966.-Origins:...
candidate. In law school he was a member of Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
and served as editor-in-chief of the California Law Review
California Law Review
The California Law Review is the flagship law journal of UC Berkeley School of Law . Founded in 1912, the Review was the first student law journal published west of Illinois....
.
Career in law
In 1966, he was hired as a law clerk by Justice William J. Brennan of the United States Supreme Court. Brennan, however, fired him the week he began his job, following complaints made by conservative columnists because of Tigar's activist background. Tigar was a partner in the firm of Williams & ConnollyWilliams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
of Washington, DC (1976–'78), where he worked underneath legendary trial attorney Edward Bennett Williams, and has been a professor at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
's Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
since 1998 [Association of American Law Schools Directory of Law Teachers 2007-08, p.1095].
In his teaching, he has worked with law students in clinical programs where students are counsel or law clerks in significant human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
litigation. He has made several trips to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, working with organizations of African lawyers engaged in the struggle to end apartheid, and after the release of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
from prison, to lecture on human rights issues and to advise the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
on issues in drafting a new constitution. He has been actively involved in efforts to bring to justice members of the Chilean junta, including former President Pinochet. Of Mr. Tigar’s career, Justice William J. Brennan has written that his “tireless striving for justice stretches his arms towards perfection.”
In 1999, the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Attorneys for Criminal Justice held a ballot for “Lawyer of the Century.” Mr. Tigar was third in the balloting, behind Clarence Darrow
Clarence Darrow
Clarence Seward Darrow was an American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, best known for defending teenage thrill killers Leopold and Loeb in their trial for murdering 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks and defending John T...
and Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
. In 2003, the Texas Civil Rights Project named its new building in Austin, Texas, (purchased with a gift from attorney Wayne Reaud) the “Michael Tigar Human Rights Center.” Tigar's return to the courtroom for a last full-blown trial, in 2004-05, was in defense of a fellow left-oriented activist criminal-defense lawyer, Lynne Stewart
Lynne Stewart
Lynne Irene Stewart is a former attorney who represented controversial, poor, and often unpopular defendants who was convicted on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists in 2005, and sentenced to 28 months in prison. Her felony conviction led to her being automatically...
, which was an exhausting ordeal and ultimately a demoralizing loss.
He is Professor of the Practice of Law at Duke Law Schoolhttp://www.law.duke.edu/fac/tigar/. He has been visiting professor at the law faculty of the Universite Paul Cezanne, Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
, and has lectured at law schools in several countries.
Notable clients
- Lynne StewartLynne StewartLynne Irene Stewart is a former attorney who represented controversial, poor, and often unpopular defendants who was convicted on charges of conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists in 2005, and sentenced to 28 months in prison. Her felony conviction led to her being automatically...
, who was charged with conspiracy and providing material support to terrorists - Terry NicholsTerry NicholsTerry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
, of the Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombingThe Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19... - Angela DavisAngela DavisAngela Davis is an American political activist, scholar, and author. Davis was most politically active during the late 1960s through the 1970s and was associated with the Communist Party USA, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panther Party...
, activist charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy for her alleged involvement in the death of Judge Harold HaleyHarold HaleyHarold Joseph Haley was a Superior Court judge in Marin County, California. He was taken hostage in his courtroom, along with several others, during the course of a trial, and killed during the attempted escape of his captors with their hostages.-Background:Harold Haley, the only son of Mr. and... - Kiko MartinezKiko MartinezFrancisco Martinez Sanchez more commonly known as Kiko Martinez is a professional boxer from Alicante, Spain, who fights in the super bantamweight division. From April 15, 2011, he is the current EBU Super bantamweight champion .-Amateur career:Martinez fought extensively as an amateur...
, Chicano activist - John DemjanjukJohn DemjanjukJohn Demjanjuk is a retired Ukrainian-American auto worker who gained notoriety after being accused numerous times of Holocaust-related war crimes....
, a Ukrainian-born immigrant accused of having been "Ivan the Terrible," a notorious Nazi concentration camp guard, whose conviction by courts in Israel was overturned but was stripped of U.S. citizenship - Scott McClellanScott McClellanScott McClellan is a former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, and author of a controversial No. 1 New York Times bestseller about the Bush Administration titled What Happened. He replaced Ari Fleischer as press secretary in July 2003 and served until May 10, 2006...
, who is scheduled to testify before Congress regarding the role of the Bush Administration in the CIA leak case regarding the identity of former CIA agent Valerie Plame.
Tigar has argued seven cases before the United States Supreme Court, and over 100 federal appellate cases. He has tried cases in all parts of the United States. In addition to activist clients, he has represented Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
, Rep. Ronald Dellums, Rep. John M. Murphy
John M. Murphy
John Michael Murphy is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.He was born in Staten Island, New York City, New York and attended La Salle Military Academy, Amherst College, and the United States Military Academy in West Point.He served in the U.S...
(during the Abscam scandal
Abscam
Abscam was a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation run from the FBI's Hauppauge, Long Island, office in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
), former Gov. John Connally
John Connally
John Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in...
, Fantasy Films and Mobil Oil.
Personal life
Tigar has been married four times. He has been married to journalist Jane Blanksteen Tigar since August 22, 1996. He has three children by his previous marriages.Publications
- Law and the Rise of Capitalism review
- "Examining Witnesses", 2nd ed., 2003. ISBN 1-59031-256-2
- "Persuasion," 1999.
- "Fighting Injustice"