Ed Genson
{{Short description|American lawyer (1941–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ed Genson
| birth_name = Edward Marvin Genson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1941|6|30}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|4|14|1941|6|30}}
| death_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| alma_mater = Northwestern University (BA, JD)
}}
Edward Marvin Genson (June 30, 1941 – April 14, 2020) was an American attorney who represented high-profile defendants such as former Republic Windows CEO Richard Gillman, musician R. Kelly, newspaper owner Conrad Black, and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.{{cite web |url=http://www.leadinglawyers.com/atty_profile.cfm?TOCUID=61419 |title=Edward M. Genson |work=Leading Lawyers Network |accessdate=2008-12-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116175133/http://www.leadinglawyers.com/atty_profile.cfm?TOCUID=61419 |archive-date=January 16, 2009}}
Early life
Genson was born June 30, 1941.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/article/190980 |title=The Players |date=2007-03-10 |newspaper=Toronto Star |accessdate=2008-12-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210010550/https://www.thestar.com/business/article/190980 |archive-date=2008-02-10}} He was raised on the West Side of Chicago along with his younger sister, Myrna. He received a B.A. degree from Northwestern University in 1962 in political science, and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1965.
Career
=Blagojevich Case=
Genson was hired by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich after the Governor's arrest on corruption charges on December 9, 2008{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-15-blagojevich-main-monday_N.htm?csp=34 |title=Illinois House forms impeachment panel |last=Keen |first=Judy |date=2008-12-15 |work=USA Today |accessdate=2008-12-16}} and represented him at the impeachment hearings in the Illinois House of Representatives.
On January 23, 2009, after only a month on the case, Genson announced that he would step down as Blagojevich's lead defense attorney, stating that "I never require a client to do what I say but I do require them to at least listen to what I say."{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/23/blagojevich.attorney/index.html |title=Blagojevich's Lead Defense Lawyer to Resign |author= |date=January 26, 2009 |website=CNN |access-date=18 April 2020}}
=Republic Windows & Doors=
Genson was hired by former Republic Windows CEO Richard Gillman to represent him against the charges brought against him. In a surprise move, the judge set Gillman's bail at $10 million; a significantly higher amount than the Prosecution requested.{{Cite news |url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/republic-window-ceo-expected-to-be-released-on-bond.html |title=Republic Window CEO released on bond |date=September 25, 2009 |work=Chicago Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929083247/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/republic-window-ceo-expected-to-be-released-on-bond.html |archive-date=September 29, 2009}}
On Saturday September 25, Genson was able to get Gillman's bail cut in half and he was able to post bail.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/republic-windows-doors-richard-gillman-bond-reduction-home-electronic-monitoriing-61575867.html |title=Republic's Former CEO Bonds Out of Jail |first=BJ |last=Lutz |date=September 26, 2009 |website=NBC Chicago |access-date=18 April 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929011318/http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/republic-windows-doors-richard-gillman-bond-reduction-home-electronic-monitoriing-61575867.html |archive-date=September 29, 2009}}
Personal life
Genson and his wife, Susan, had three children. Genson died April 15, 2020, at 78 from bile duct cancer.{{Cite news |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/15/21197447/ed-genson-dead-legendary-criminal-defense-attorney-represented-r-kelly-mobsters-obituary |title=Legendary criminal defense attorney Ed Genson, who represented the famous and the infamous, has died |last=Steinberg |first=Neil |date=2020-04-15 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en |access-date=2020-04-16}}
Genson was affected by dystonia, a neuromuscular disorder that makes muscles contract involuntarily.
Bibliography
- "Prosecutorial Courtroom Misconduct in Illinois", Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal, Fall 1987
- "A Guide to Handling Federal Narcotics Forfeiture Cases", Illinois Bar Journal, April 1991
- "Taped Evidence in Criminal Cases: Confronting the Tape Recorder", Litigation Magazine (American Bar Association), Winter 1994
References
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Category:Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law alumni
Category:Deaths from cancer in Illinois
Category:Deaths from cholangiocarcinoma in the United States
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