50 Years of Lawyering Includes Manson Trial

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013 50 years of lawyering includes Manson trial

By Ryne Hodkowski Prosecutors, who included Aaron Stovitz, Daily Journal Staff Writer Vincent Bugliosi and then-Los Angeles District Attorney Evelle J. Younger — who onald L.M. Goldman, the attorney would later become California Attorney who helped secure immunity for General — originally arranged for a deal RLinda Kasabian, the prosecution’s that would include Manson family member key witness in the case against Charles Susan Atkins testifying in return for a life Manson and members of his infamous sentence. “family” in the Tate-LaBianca murder But Goldman said he argued Atkins had trial and who made a name for himself in been involved in the physical act of murder, aviation law, celebrated his 50th year of whereas Kasabian was a lookout. practice on Thursday. “I said, ‘You can’t in good consciousness Goldman, a name partner at Baum, make a deal with someone with blood on Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman PC in Los their hands,’” Goldman said. “It is politi- Angeles, began his career surrounded by cally stupid and a prosecutorial blunder.” attorneys practicing the then-modern niche GOLDMAN Over several meetings, Goldman was of personal injury and wrongful death law. able to convince prosecutors to use Kasa- In a time before Miranda rights and public self a pioneer in the field of aviation law, bian as the key witness and to grant her full defenders, he began getting trial experience Goldman said he was among its earliest immunity for her cooperation. after volunteering for the federal indigent practitioners. In 1972, he was admitted “Some of the negotiations — to say defense counsel. to practice in Great Britain after the crash they were tension-filled would be an un- of a British European Airways jet — the derstatement,” Goldman said. “But we got ‘The work I do is more intense worst commercial air disaster in Britain at the agreement done, and all of the people and complex than 30, 40 or 50 the time. Goldman represented the family involved went to prison for the rest of their years ago, but the satisfaction of an American passenger killed in the life, while [Kasabian] went home.” crash. In 2005, he elicited an official public In addition to his career as an attorney, and rewards that come are just apology from Air Midwest regarding the Goldman taught for 21 years at Pepperdine as great.’ commuter crash two years earlier of Air School of Law, originally teaching torts and — Ronald L.M. Goldman Midwest Flight 5481 in Charlotte, N.C. later aviation accident law. Such an apology, Goldman’s firm said, was Despite practicing for 50 years, Goldman In 1969, Goldman handled his first avia- “unprecedented.” said he still gets satisfaction from helping tion-related case, defending the Profession- Goldman got involved in the Manson clients and demanding justice for everyone. al Air Traffic Controllers Organization’s murder trials as a result of his friendship “The work I do is more intense and interests in an attempt to improve the work- with Gary B. Fleishmann, Kasabian’s complex than 30, 40 or 50 years ago, but ing conditions of controllers experiencing attorney. Kasabian had already hired the satisfaction and rewards that come are excessive stress levels. Goldman obtained Fleishmann to help get her child back from just as great,” Goldman said. “I spend a a victory on appeal in the 10th Circuit U.S. Manson’s ranch, Goldman said. When news great deal of time lecturing and telling Court of Appeals. of the 1969 murders broke, Fleishmann people that justice is real and that we need While he said he doesn’t consider him- reached out to Goldman for help. to embrace it free from a cynical attitude.”