Kendall Coffey is an author, guest lecturer and speaker, legal analyst, former U.S. Attorney, partner at Coffey Burlington. He has appeared in television and radio shows around the country discussing his new book Spinning the Law: Trying Cases in the Court of Public Opinion, and at speaking engagements ranging from Stanford Law School to the New York Lawyers Association. Recent engagements include featured speaker at Los Angeles Loyola Marymount Law School's Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice and at the 6th Annual H.F. Guggenheim Symposium on Crime in America held at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC, January 2011.

High-profile courtroom dramas fascinate our nation, especially when they concern the rich and famous. And while the American public has come to realize that the spin factor is a prime ingredient in political tactics and marketing campaigns, many are unaware of the strategies for shaping public opinion when it comes to major courtroom battles. This behind-the-scenes analysis of media strategies presents intriguing and often entertaining insights into what they do not teach in law school or journalism classes. Kendall Coffey's many entertaining examples and explanations make this book ideal reading for everyone fascinated by celebrity legal problems but must reading for lawyers, public relations professionals, journalists, and media students.

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"Traditionally anonymous juries have been used to protect from harm from organized crime mobs. Here it's an internet mob and it's so much more difficult to know whether it's malicious chatter or malicious threats."

Kendall Coffey, Today Show, Oct. 25, 2011 Casey Anthony names of jurors released

Legal Highlights and Lowlights of 2011
 
This year’s legal news had some great moments and some that were not so great. Needless to say, the Casey Anthony trial figured prominently into such moments.

Legal Highlights

Biggest Surprise: By far, no verdict was more surprising than the acquittal of Casey Anthony – America’s most notorious mom – on all the felony counts. Some would say a dark day for American justice – all should agree it was a dark day for the reliability of legal talking heads who overwhelmingly predicted a conviction on one or more felony counts.

Greatest Underdog Story: Anthony’s lawyer, Jose Baez, seemingly chastised at every turn by the trial judge, combined an often fumbling style with an excellent command of the forensic issues to score the stunning upset.

Greatest Defense Speed Victory: the lawyers for Dominique Straus Kahn including the renown Ben Brafman, took a seemingly super-sleazed public figure and in record time redeemed DSK as a victim of false accusations.

Greatest High Profile Guilty Verdict (State Prosecution): Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, M.D., was guilty as charged following a prosecution in which the outcome was never in doubt. Rather than overcharge the case, prosecutors nailed Murray with an overwhelming case of involuntary manslaughter and secured the highest sentence available under the law.

Greatest High Profile Guilty Verdict (Federal Prosecution): After misfiring in the first trial that led to a hung jury, federal prosecutors scored a sweeping victory over ex-governor Rob Blagojevich, whose 14 year sentence underscored the magnitude of the prosecution’s success.

Legal Lowlights

Worst Second Guessing: Throughout the Casey Anthony trial, the prosecution team was applauded for its outstanding work while the defense was chronically blistered by various legal commentators. But the second guessing transformed magically when the verdict was returned proving that much of the second guessing of Baez was unfair, while launching a new wave of finger pointing toward the prosecutors who – very predictably – were geniuses no more.

Worst Overseas Legal Experience in a High Profile Case: Although American student, Amanda Knox was acquitted by the appellate tribunal of the brutal murder of her roommate in Perugia, Italy, she spent four years in an Italian jail amid venomous publicity that fueled a shaky prosecution and the trial court conviction.

Worst Fall of an American Icon: The Penn State scandal brought forth horrific allegations of serial child molesting by former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky. Many will remember this case, though, because of the questions surrounding Joe Paterno who was fired despite his fabled coaching career and his remarkable achievements on and off the field. For those who believe Paterno, he knew too much and said too little about Sandusky, no amount of coaching glory could redeem his legacy.

Worst Excuse for Walking Out With a Necklace: While on probation for drunk driving, Lindsey Lohan was found to have stolen an expensive necklace claiming that the store loaned it to her. The store owners disagreed and while Lohan was found guilty of violating her probation, her actual jail time was 4-1/2 hours.

Worst Legal Conundrum: Given its huge importance, one might think that the legal future of the Obama health care legislation would be known by now. But, federal judges seem to disagree about the legality of the plan as much as Congresspersons and Senators disagree about its wisdom. The nation will not know until the Supreme Court speaks to the issue, a decision that is expected in June, 2012.

KENDALL COFFEY

AUTHOR
LEGAL ANALYST
GUEST LECTURER

"When attorneys spin, it's about trying to win. And yet, there's much more to it" says Kendall Coffey, former U.S. Attorney.