Thomas Mesereau is an attorney and to take on death penalty cases pro bono.

1. LAWCROSSING
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Thomas A. Mesereau, Jr.
[by Regan Morris]
Since the Michael Jackson trial ended in June, Thomas Mesereau’s phone has been ringing off the
hook. His successful defense of Jackson made Mesereau one of the most famous attorneys in the world.
LawCrossing speaks to Mesereau about his practice and his commitment to fighting injustices—for both
celebrity clients and impoverished men on death row.
Mesereau’s fame is ironic. He admonishes names for themselves and obtain fame and conviction work. I told her that I don’t do
attorneys who seek fame and fortune and fortune at his expense by trying to exploit post-conviction work, that I’m a trial lawyer
believes such goals are responsible for much the fact that he’s a different kind of human and I’m willing to try cases,” he said. “And
misery in the legal profession. being. And I felt he was a victim of what I call she indicated to me that that was highly
celebrity injustice. He was targeted because unusual, that most trial lawyers don’t want
Known for his shock of white hair and he’s a megastar and they used resources to go anywhere near a death penalty case pro
his brilliant and often unusual cross- that they would never have used even if he bono.”
examination skills, Mesereau said winning were a serial killer.”
the Jackson trial with 14 not-guilty verdicts Community service has always been a part of
had increased interest in his career, but had Mesereau said that millions of dollars were Mesereau’s life, even before he went to law
not changed him as a man or an attorney. needlessly spent trying to convict Jackson school. The son of a World War II hero and
He recently started a new firm, Mesereau and 70 officers raided Jackson’s home and West Point graduate, Mesereau said it took
& Yu, with his co-counsel from the Jackson prosecutors traveled overseas to find people him years to decide he wanted to work in
and Robert Blake trials, Susan Yu. And he to testify against Jackson. Mesereau is in criminal defense and urged young attorneys
continues to take on death penalty cases pro the initial stages of writing a book on the to keep trying different areas of the law and
bono. experience. different firms until they find what makes
them happy. Early in his career, Mesereau
“Unfortunately, most lawyers don’t want “I’d like the book to focus on my views of the tried administrative law in a big Washington,
to do pro bono work. They’re caught up in justice system, my views of criminal defense, DC, firm and spent a year as a prosecutor,
their lifestyle; they’re caught up in paying and also use the Michael Jackson case as an which he disliked. Mesereau is known for
their debts; they’re caught up in wearing example of how injustice can appear in all putting prosecutors on the stand during
nice clothes and driving fancy cars, and, you areas, including how the media treated the trials.
know, all of sudden, they realize they’re not case, how the prosecutors treated the case,
terribly fulfilled,” he said. “Civil rights work, et cetera,” he said. “Don’t give up finding a niche that satisfies
pro bono work can be extremely fulfilling. you. Too many lawyers will go from one firm
I didn’t get to Michael Jackson through Mesereau needed a vacation after the case. to another firm to a third firm to a fourth firm
Hollywood, and I didn’t get to Michael Now he’s working on a book proposal, setting and basically finally throw up their hands and
Jackson by being known as a celebrity up the new firm, and preparing for a death say, “It’s never going to get better,’” he said.
lawyer. I got to Michael Jackson for my work penalty case in Alabama. He tries one such “I think that’s a mistake. I think there are
in the black community and my concern for case a year in Alabama and is passionate fulfilling opportunities for all lawyers if they
civil rights.” about abolishing the death penalty, which will really look into who they are and keep
he considers barbaric and ineffectual. trying.”
While some believe Michael Jackson One of Mesereau’s friends was the former
was found innocent partly because of his director of the American Bar Association’s After studying government and international
celebrity, Mesereau says Michael Jackson Death Penalty Representation Project in affairs at Harvard, Mesereau worked as a
was a targeted because of his fame. Washington, DC, and she got him involved speechwriter on Capitol Hill. He then earned
with a group of attorneys in Alabama. a Master’s degree in International Affairs
“I felt that Michael Jackson was a victim of at the London School of Economics before
his own celebrity status,” he said. “I felt that “She was primarily trying to get the services attending law school at the University of
prosecutors and sheriffs were trying to make of lawyers to do appellate work and post- California, Hastings College of the Law.
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2. LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW STAR www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Mesereau said he finally found his niche with Mesereau said he does not talk about his In 2003, when prosecutors announced
criminal defense work, but can’t remember financial situation, but does not consider the warrant for Jackson’s arrest during a
the first criminal case he tried. When asked himself overly affluent. He consistently talks televised press conference, many people
the about his success in the courtroom, about how fulfillment is more important than were shocked to see the media, prosecutors,
Mesereau said the secret is a good memory money. He is an active volunteer in South Los and the sheriff laughing and telling jokes
and old-fashioned work habits. Angeles, offering legal advice to the poor. about Jackson and the child molestation
charges.
“I do not use a computer. I don’t like them,” “I really believe that lawyers often miss
he said. “I’m known for my prodigious the boat. They’re unhappy in their work; “Well, we had the last laugh,” Mesereau said.
memory when I try cases. I’ve been known they’re unfulfilled; but they never try to find “We got 14 not-guilty verdicts, 10 felonies
to cross-examine people for days based on a way out of it,” he said. “People with our and four misdemeanors. So I think we had
what’s in my head and looking at documents education and our professional opportunities the last laugh in that one.”
in front of me. And I feel if I were used to have many, many options available to them.
stuffing everything into a computer, I would And one of the options they have is to fight
not stuff it into my head.” injustice and to make a contribution to
society.”
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