Leonard Weinglass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonard Weinglass
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Leonard Irving Weinglass
August 27, 1933 Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | March 23, 2011 (aged 77) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Education | George Washington University (BA) Yale University (LLB) |
Leonard Irving Weinglass (born August 27, 1933 – died March 23, 2011) was a famous American lawyer. He was known for defending people's rights and helping those involved in important social movements. He often worked on cases related to the 1960s counterculture, which was a time of big changes and new ideas in society.
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Early Life and Education
Leonard Weinglass was born on August 27, 1933, in Belleville, New Jersey. He studied law at Yale Law School and graduated in 1958. After finishing his studies, he served as a captain and lawyer in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1961.
A Champion for Justice
Weinglass became a lawyer in several states, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and California. He was an expert in Constitutional law, which deals with the basic rules that protect people's rights in a country. He also taught law at universities.
He took on many important cases, especially for people who were part of movements for social change.
Defending the Chicago Seven
One of his most famous cases was defending the Chicago Seven in 1969. These were a group of activists who faced serious charges after protests in Chicago. Leonard Weinglass, along with another lawyer named William Kunstler, worked hard to defend them.
Other Key Cases
Weinglass also helped Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo, who were accused of sharing important government documents known as the Pentagon Papers. Their trial ended with all charges being dropped.
In 1970, he successfully defended Angela Davis, a well-known activist, against serious accusations. He helped her win her case and be found not guilty.
He also defended other people involved in social movements, such as Kathy Boudin and Ron Kaufman. He worked for many years as the main defense lawyer for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and he even wrote a book about his case called Race for Justice.
Protecting Privacy Rights
In 1972, Weinglass took on a case for John Sinclair, who was the leader of the White Panther Party. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court made a very important decision, saying that the government could not listen to people's private conversations (electronic surveillance) without a special order called a warrant. This decision helped protect people's privacy rights.
Later Notable Cases
Leonard Weinglass continued to take on challenging cases throughout his career. He defended Stephen Bingham in 1985, an attorney accused of helping an inmate during an escape attempt.
From 2002 until his death, he was the lead lawyer for the Cuban Five, a group of Cubans accused of spying in the United States.
Last Years and Legacy
Leonard Weinglass continued working on cases almost until the very end of his life. He loved helping people and often took on cases that other lawyers had turned down. He once said, "the typical call I get is the one that starts by saying 'You are the fifth attorney we've called'. Then I get interested."
Leonard Weinglass passed away on March 23, 2011, at the age of 77, due to pancreatic cancer. He left behind a legacy of fighting for justice and protecting the rights of individuals.
In Popular Culture
Leonard Weinglass's work and life have been shown in movies:
- Elliott Gould played him in the 1987 film Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8.
- Weinglass himself provided his voice for the 2007 animated documentary Chicago 10.
- Ben Shenkman played him in the 2020 drama film The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Awards and Recognition
Leonard Weinglass received several awards for his dedication to justice:
- 1974: He was the first person to receive the Clarence Darrow Award.
- 1980: He received the Humanitarian Award from the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles.
- 1994: He received the Outstanding Achievement Award from California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.
