I was saddened to learn that Roy Black had passed away a few days ago, at 80. I first met him in 1983 during a high-profile manslaughter case, the trial of Miami Police Officer Luis Alvarez. His autobiography, “Black’s Law” (not to be confused with Black’s Law Dictionary which everyone should have anyway) focuses on the four cases he was proudest of. One was the Alvarez acquittal after a long and grueling trial, and another was the death penalty murder trial of Stephen Hicks. In both of them, Black and his co-counsel, the equally brilliant Mark Seiden, won acquittals. I was an expert witness for the defense in each of those trials and can tell you Roy told it exactly as they happened. Read tributes from his peers, here.
Have the book and it’s a great read. The quote from Mr. Justice Holmes in Alverez on use of force is worth the price of the book. (too bad there’s not a citation) The most disturbing case was the Federal RICO case against a banker. Didn’t know about the differences in discovery if the Feds are after you.
Sorry to see him pass.
I sometimes sent Roy an email with a link to a just issued court opinion or to discuss some strategy on a case for a mutual client. Before 6 a.m. Most always he would respond by email within 15 minutes. And sometimes he would read the case and call.
If his secretary called and said “please hold for Roy Black,” I would hang up. She would call and say it again. I would hang up again after she put me on hold. The phone would then ring shortly thereafter. It would be Roy. Roy would say hello and tell me he thought my antic I was funny but his secretary did not.
This is a HUGE loss for the legal community.
So sorry Mas.
RIP Roy….
To this day I still review the Alvarez case Mas, it was the Ayoob Files installment that really explained it all to me after reading the “media” accounts and it shaped the way I do certain things as did the Mark Yuhr shooting. For instance, I prefer a striker fired pistol, currently a Ruger RXM as primary, but a revolver for backup as Mr. Yuhr had with him that night (my EP has carpet tunnel so carries a .38 snub). As to the Stephen Hicks case, I can say that this is the primary reason that I’m not a death penalty supporter, the Billy Anders file is another. Thank you so much for all you do.
May he Rest In Peace.