Alton H. Maddox Jr.
Alton H. Maddox, Jr. (b. 1945 in Newnan, Georgia) is an American former lawyer who was involved in several publicized cases in the 1980s before his disbarment in 1990.
Education
Maddox began practicing law in 1976 after graduating Howard University and Boston College Law School.
Clients
Maddox represented several proven and alleged crime victims including the family of Michael Stewart, a Brooklyn man who died while in New York City Transit Police custody. Six officers were indicted for the death, all were found not guilty. Rudy Giuliani, then US Attorney in Manhattan, found insufficient evidence to warrant a federal grand jury investigation. A Metropolitan Transportation Authority report later faulted police for use of excessive force[1]
Cedric Sandiford and the family of manslaughter victim Michael Griffith in the Howard Beach racial attack. Maddox and other lawyers demanded a special prosecutor be appointed to the case, a requested eventually granted. [2]
Tawana Brawley during her rape allegations. After a jury concluding her claims were not true, Maddox was sued for defamation. He was found liable of making two defamatory statements and ordered to pay damages of $95,000.
The family of murder victim Yusuf Hawkins in the Bensonhurst racial attack.
Maddox has also represented many criminal defendants, notably Michael Briscoe, arrested during the investigation into the rape of the Central Park jogger. Briscoe was never indicted for that case but did plead guilty to one count of simple assault for a confrontation that occurred earlier that night.[3]
Maddox was the defense lawyer for one of the two men hired by Marla Hanson's landlord to mutilate and disfigure her; Maddox's tactics of assaulting Hanson's character on racial and sexual grounds brought considerable attention to the trial. Maddox answered such criticism by saying, It's my job to walk Mr. Bowman out of this courthouse. and law professor Stephen Gillers of New York University Law School, said: There's nothing unethical about what he is reported to have done."
Al Sharpton when Sharpton faced a sixty seven count indictment alleging fraud and theft. Sharpton was acquited on all charges.[6]
Disciplinary actions
In 1996 Maddox was ordered to pay New York State $1,000 in legal costs for filing a false complaint of racial bias by Michael Mukasey, at that time a Federal judge.[7] The next year, in 1997, Maddox and his group, the United African Movement, were fined $10,000 by New York City's Commission on Human Rights after they denied a white teacher access to a speech by Cornel West on the basis of her race.[8]
Maddox disbarment resulted for refusing to appear[9] before a disciplinary hearing investigating his behavior in the Brawley affair.
Other
Maddox is a former Director of the National Conference of Black Lawyers Juvenile Defense Project.[10]
Maddox is the founder of the Center for Law & Social Justice at Medgar Evers College and co-sponsored 1983 Congressional hearings on Police Brutality in New York City. A 2006 resolution passed by the Council of the City of New York supported Maddox's reinstatement, but the New York State Attorney General's office has not acted on this request.[11]
Maddox often contributes to publications such as Amsterdam News and is a frequent guest on WLIB radio's Sharp Talk program, hosted by Sharpton. He has also given speeches at several colleges.
Notes
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4DF173CF937A15752C0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D91031F931A35752C0A961948260
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3DD1F3AF934A25750C0A966958260
- ^ James, George (1987-05-12). "Man Given 5-To-15-Year Term In Model's Slashing". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Shipp, E. E. (1987-04-21). "Defense Lawyers' Tactics: Unfair Or Just Aggressive?". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D61231F930A35754C0A966958260
- ^ McFadden, Robert (1988-12-25). "Maddox is Ordered to Pay $1,000 For Filing a False Bias Complaint". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.nyls.edu/pages/457.asp
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFDA1E3CF937A25752C1A96F948260
- ^ http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50710F638580C748EDDAB0994DE484D81
- ^ http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Res%200174-2006.htm