author
William M. (William Moses) Kunstler
1919–1995
Known for defending unpopular causes and headline-making clients, this fiery civil rights lawyer became one of the most recognizable courtroom figures of the 1960s and beyond. He is especially remembered for his role in the Chicago Seven trial and for turning the law into a tool of protest as well as defense.
1 Audiobook
... and justice for all
by William M. (William Moses) Kunstler
About the author
Born in New York City on July 7, 1919, William Moses Kunstler studied at Yale and later earned his law degree from Columbia. After serving in World War II and spending time teaching, he built a legal career that gradually shifted toward civil liberties and political activism.
Kunstler became nationally famous as a defense attorney for movement leaders, protesters, and other controversial clients. He worked with the civil rights movement in the South, helped found the Center for Constitutional Rights, served in leadership roles connected with the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild, and was widely identified with the legal battles of the 1960s and 1970s.
He remained a deeply polarizing public figure, admired by supporters for his fearlessness and criticized by others for the causes and clients he chose to defend. Kunstler died in New York City on September 4, 1995, but he is still remembered as a lawyer who pushed the boundaries of what courtroom advocacy could mean in public life.