F. Lee Bailey
Steven Brill, founder of Court TV and “The American Lawyer” magazine, once called Lee…
“…an enduring legal figure in the sense that he’s been willing, and in fact relished, taking on clients that were the demons of society.”
Born June 10, 1933, Francis Lee Bailey was a legendary criminal defense attorney and author of more than twenty books. Bailey’s career as a trial lawyer is highlighted by such extraordinary cases as Dr. Sam Sheppard, Dr. Carl Coppolino, Albert DeSalvo (aka the “Boston Strangler”), Patty Hearst, and O.J. Simpson. Among his previous books is the national bestseller The Defense Never Rests. Bailey ended his career as a consultant in Atlanta, Georgia, where he published his final book, The Truth About the O.J. Simpson Trial: By the Architect of the Defense. Bailey died on June 3, 2021, at the age of 87.
Mr. Bailey’s Credentials
Education
1946-47
Cardigan Mountain School, Canaan, New Hampshire (Graduated, Valedictorian)
1947-50
Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, New Hampshire (Graduated)
1950-52
Harvard College – English Major
1952-54
U.S. Naval Flight Training, Pensacola, Florida (Graduated)
1954
Designated a Naval Aviator Commissioned Second Lieutenant, U. S. Marine Corps
1954-56
Jet Fighter Pilot and Legal Officer, VMF-334, then MAG 32, USMCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina
1957
January – August: Harvard College
1957
September: Admitted to Boston University Law School: Requirement for undergraduate degree waived because of military legal experience
1960
Graduated B.U. Law School as Valedictorian
Businesses
1957-65
Licensed Private Investigator, Massachusetts
1968-74
Co-Chair (with B. B. King) FAIRR (Foundation for the Advancement of Inmate Recreation and Rehabilitation)
1971-80
President & Principal Shareholder, Enstrom Helicopter Manufacturing Co., Menominee, Michigan
1973—
Lifetime Member, American Polygraph Association (Lifetime Achievement Award), 2008
1975-80
Member, Young President’s Organization. (YPO)
1975–
President and Principal Shareholder, TelShare Publishing Co. Chelsea Massachusetts (educational books)
1980-82
Consultant, Fairchild Aircraft Co., San Antonio, Texas
1981-88
Director, Shareholder & Special Counsel, Murray Chris Craft Industries, Inc., Sarasota, Florida
1988–
President and Sole Shareholder, Palm Beach Roamer, Inc. West Palm Beach, Florida (re-manufacturing aluminum yachts and re-manufacturing Piper Twin Comanche aircraft)
2003–
Licensed Private Investigator, Florida
2003–
Investigative Consultant, Lynn, MA
2003–
Vice Chairman of the Board, New England Insulation, Canton, MA, (Supervisor of Asbestos Litigation in 5 states)
2005–
Member, World President’s Organization, a/k/a New England Forty-Niners (affiliate of YPO)
2006–
Senior Consultant, Oxford Aviation, Oxford, ME (aircraft refurbishment)
Flight Experience
1954–
Commercial, multi-engine & instrument pilot (Lic.#1287353)
1967–
Type Rating, Lear Jet
1968–
Rotorcraft (helicopter) Rating
1952–
Over 20,000 flight hours, still an active pilot
Writing History
1971
The Defense Never Rests (Criminal cases)
1975
For The Defense (Criminal cases)
1977
Cleared For The Approach, (Aviation)
1979
Secrets (Novel)
1982
To Be A Trial Lawyer (Educational book)
1967–
Criminal Law Library (West), 11 Volumes for law practitioners
Lecturing History
1960–
More than 2800 lectures on various topics in law, investigation, and aviation to colleges, universities, conventions, professional groups and community organizations
Television History
1967
Host of Good Company, ABC Network interview show
1974-77
Legal Host, Good Morning America, ABC Network morning show
1978
Host of The Enemy Within, RKO syndicated
1983
Host of Lie Detector, Columbia Television, Syndicated
Notable Cases
1966
Sheppard v. Maxwell (Ohio), U.S. Supreme Court,
1966
Ohio v. Sheppard, Court of Common Pleas, Cleveland
1966
State v. Coppolino, Superior Court, New Jersey
1967
Commonwealth v. DeSalvo, (The Boston Strangler) Superior Court, Massachusetts
1967
State v. Coppolino, Circuit Court, Florida
1967
U.S. v. Kelley, (The “Great Plymouth Mail Robbery”) U.S. District Court, Boston
1971
U.S. Army v. Captain Ernest Medina, Fort McPherson, Georgia
1973
U.S. v. Garrison, (New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison) U.S. District Court, New Orleans
1975
U.S. v. Patricia Hearst, U.S. District Court, San Francisco
1976
U.S. v. David Norvell, (Attorney-General of New Mexico) U.S. District Court, Albuquerque
1978
U.S. v. Peter McDonald, (Chairman, Navajo Tribe) Phoenix, Arizona
1983-84
In Re Sir Lynden O. Pindling, (Prime Minister, Bahamas) Nassau Commission of Inquiry
1986
In Re Bhopal Gas Disaster, U.S. District Court, New York
1995
California v. Orenthal James Simpson, Superior Court, Los Angeles, California
1995
North Carolina v. Mark Crotts, Superior Court, Burlington, North Carolina (double murder)
2000-2010
DuPont v. Pennsylvania