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For the Defense with David Oscar Markus — True Crime
For the Defense with David Oscar Markus

David Oscar Markus, a Miami trial attorney, has been called “a reincarnation of the old school criminal defense lawyer” and has represented clients from the head of the Cali Cartel to Fortune 500 companies and their CEOs. David has partnered with rakontur, the lauded storytellers behind Cocaine Cowboys, The U and 537 Votes, on the podcast, For the Defense.

The podcast focuses on the work of the least-respected but perhaps the most important profession in America: the criminal defense attorney. In each episode, Markus will interview a top criminal defense lawyer about one of their most gripping trials.

Sadly, the criminal defense trial lawyer is a dying breed. The Feds have manipulated the system — which was founded on the idea of trial by jury — to force almost everyone (occasionally including the innocent) into pleading guilty to avoid trial. If you dare to go to trial, you risk going to prison for decades longer than had you surrendered and pleaded guilty. The system has shifted from valuing and encouraging trials to punishing those who dare exercise their constitutional right to have a jury decide their guilt. In the 1980s, over 20% of cases went to trial — now less than 3% do so.

Having tried cases all over the United States, Markus is well-positioned to speak to other leading criminal defense lawyers in the country and explore with them the decision they made in a high-profile case to proceed to trial, including their trial strategy, the risks involved, and the clients themselves.

The podcast is currently in Season 6. It has broken news, achieved industry-wide accolades, and is the go to listen for trial lawyers around the country.

CONTACT: info@rakontur.com, DMarkus@markuslaw.com

Copyright: © Copyright 2024 rakontur

Latest Episodes:

David Gerger for Robert Kaluza (Deepwater Horizon) Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

The Deepwater Horizon explosion was arguably the worst environmental disaster in United States history. In its effort to assign blame, the government scapegoated an innocent man - Robert Kaluza, the off-duty rig supervisor who was filling in for a few days. David Gerger discusses his successful defense with David Markus in this episode of For the Defense.

Abbe Lowell for Sen. John Edwards Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Senator John Edwards was a rising star in the Democratic party. He was a popular senator from North Carolina. He was John Kerry’s running mate in 2004 and then a presidential candidate in 2008. But he was also a flawed candidate as he was having an affair while his wife was dying from cancer and while he was campaigning for the highest office in the land. Was the cover up of the affair and Rielle Hunter’s pregnancy a federal crime or simply a sin? You’ll hear David Markus discuss the fascinating federal trial with famed criminal defense lawyer Abbe Lowell, who successfully defended Edwards.

Jayne Weintraub for Yahweh Ben Yahweh Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Yahweh Ben Yahweh had been convicted in federal court of conspiracy and sentenced to 17 years. But that was not enough for prosecutors who viewed him as an evil cult leader who ordered gruesome murders in South Florida. So they charged him with first degree murder in state court. The case involved tales of beheadings, cutting people's ears, and even a Temple of Love. Jayne Weintraub took over the defense and won.

Rob Cary for Sen. Ted Stevens Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

Senator Ted Stevens was charged in federal court right before his election. He turned the famed criminal defense firm of Williams & Connolly to defend him. Rob Cary, who tried the case with Brendan Sullivan, discusses defending a well-known political figure at trial and also what turned into one of the biggest cases of prosecutorial misconduct in this Nation's history.

Ron Sullivan for Aaron Hernandez Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Harvard Law Professor Ron Sullivan has spent his career teaching trial advocacy. In this episode of For the Defense, he shares with David Oscar Markus the techniques he used in defending NFL star Aaron Hernandez in his second murder trial. No one thought the case was winnable after Hernandez has previously been found guilty of another murder. That's when true defenders like Sullivan shine.

Jose Baez for Casey Anthony Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Jose Baez was a former Miami public defender looking to make a living in Orlando. Then he got a call from the jail that would change his life forever. Casey Anthony put her trust in Jose, and he did not disappoint. Up against a hostile media, judge, prosecution and even local bar, Jose showed what Miami criminal defense lawyers are made of.

Alan Dershowitz for O.J. Simpson Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

Season 2 of For the Defense premieres with Alan Dershowitz, perhaps the most well-known criminal defense lawyer of this generation.

In this episode, he discusses the O.J. Simpson case, which went to trial while host David Oscar Markus was in his criminal law class at Harvard Law School. Dershowitz discusses what went wrong for the prosecution and the fascinating question of what should a jury do when it believes that the police framed someone they believe to be guilty.

Hank Asbill for Gov. Robert McDonnell Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

BONUS SEASON ONE EPISODE: How many times over the past year have you heard the words quid pro quo? The entire impeachment trial of President Trump centered around the meaning of these words. But it didn't start with Trump. Back in 2014, Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife were charged with fraud for accepting gifts. Attorney Hank Asbill told the feds that they had no case because the Governor did not perform an "official act" in exchange for the gifts -- there may have been a quid but there was no quo. In this episode, Hank will explain the long-game defense strategy, which ultimately led to victory.

F. Lee Bailey for Sam Sheppard Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

F. Lee Bailey discusses the case that thrust him into the national spotlight in the trial of the century before trials were covered by TV and social media. Bailey was a young gunslinger, representing Sam Sheppard, who later became the inspiration for the TV series and movie called The Fugitive.

Bailey took on Sheppard’s case after he had been convicted at his first trial and most had lost hope for him despite his repeated claims of innocence. Bailey did not lose hope and took the case all the way to the Supreme Court and then to a new trial, where he became known as the best cross-examiner of a generation.

H.T. Smith for Aubrey Arthur Livingston Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

H.T. Smith discusses what it means to be a criminal defense lawyer in the context of an unspeakably grisly first-degree murder case in which his client, Aubrey Arthur Livingston, was accused of participating in the killing of five people, including two small children.

Smith tried the case before a Broward County (FL) judge who appeared to be looking forward to sending Smith's client to "Old Sparky," the electric chair in Florida used to inflict the ultimate punishment. Smith fought two trials and an appeal all the way to the Florida Supreme Court as the only barrier between his client and electrocution.

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