William M. Kunstler

“A vivid, thoughtfully enthusiastic [biography] of the radical lawyer who defended such diverse clients as the Chicago Seven . . . John Gotti” (Kirkus). Throughout his career, legendary civil rights lawyer William Kunstler has been alternately vilified as a publicity-seeking egoist and lauded as a fearless advocate. In this critical biography, David Langum demonstrates that Kunstler consistently embodied both of these qualities. He delighted in taking on fiercely political cases, often representing society's outcasts and pariahs free of charge and achieving remarkable courtroom results in seemingly hopeless cases. In the late 60s and the 70s, Kunstler focused his attention on the Black Power and anti-war movements. He garnered public attention as defender of the Chicago Seven, and went on to represent such controversial figures as Leonard Peltier, the American Indian Movement leader charged with killing an FBI agent, and Jack Ruby, the killer of Lee Harvey Oswald. Later, Kunstler briefly represented Colin Ferguson, the Long Island Railroad mass murderer, outraging fans and detractors alike with his invocation of the infamous "black rage" defense.

What motivated Kunstler’s obsessive craving for media attention, his rhetorical flourishes in the courtroom and his instinctive and relentless drive for action? How did Kunstler migrate from a comfortable middle-class background to a life as a staunchly rebellious figure in social and legal history? David Langum’s portrait gives depth to the already notorious breadth of William Kunstler’s life.