172:'s office, where she worked for six years. She entered private practice as a defense attorney in 1976, and developed a reputation as a fierce advocate for her clients. She was twice named trial lawyer of the year by the L.A. Criminal Courts Bar Association. Over the course of her career, only one client that she represented received the
199:
Abramson gained national attention in the early 1990s, when she represented Erik Menéndez in his trial for the murder of his parents, again presenting parental abuse as the defense for the crime alleged. She stirred controversy when it was revealed during the trial that she had Erik's psychiatrist
208:. As a result, an investigation was launched by the state bar. Following a three year investigation, the state bar closed its case "after deciding that there was insufficient evidence to conclude she violated ethical rules in Menéndez brothers' retrial."
354:, and the couple adopted a son. Rutten died in September 2022 after suffering a fall in his Alhambra, California home. Abramson and Rutten were divorced at the time of Rutten's death, although the two remained close.
319:
191:-born gynecologist accused of strangling and dismembering his 11-year-old son", presenting an alibi for Parwez, and arguing that Parwez's brother, who had returned to Pakistan, was the likely culprit.
187:, rather than murder, for 17-year old Arnel Salvatierra, who had killed his father. Abramson argued that the father had been abusive. In 1990, Abramson won the acquittal of Dr. Khalid Parwez, "a
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176:- a multiple murderer named Ricky Sanders, who shot eleven people in a walk-in freezer in a Bob's Big Boy restaurant, killing four of them.
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as Lyle and Erik Menéndez. Sweeney portrayed
Abramson again the following year as a talk show host defending the actions of
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658:"'Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders': Edie Falco To Play Leslie Abramson In NBC Drama Series"
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delete and rewrite passages of the doctor's notes. When asked by the judge about it, she twice invoked her
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right against self-incrimination, and later asserted that any discussions were protected by
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Primetime Emmy Award for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
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at his suburban
Alhambra, California mansion, replacing his former attorney,
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whom she divorced in 1969, with whom she had a daughter, Laine. She married
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698:"The Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Casting Is So Spot-On"
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600:"Phil Spector replaces lawyer, hires Leslie Abramson to defend him"
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518:"Counsel In The Hot Seat: Did Leslie Abramson Commit A Legal Sin?"
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In 1993, while the trial was still ongoing, she was parodied on
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295:, Sydney Kross, a high-profile Beverly Hills attorney, in the
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The
Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Law
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318:, based on the Menéndez trial. Falco was nominated for a
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756:Queens College, City University of New York alumni
179:In 1988, Abramson was able to obtain a verdict of
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312:portrayed Abramson in the first season of
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161:In 1970, Abramson was admitted to the
108:(born October 6, 1943) is an American
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326:portrays Abramson in the 2024 series
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696:Burack, Emily (September 19, 2024).
282:Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills
216:In 1997, Abramson published a book,
776:21st-century American women lawyers
741:20th-century American women lawyers
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397:Dangremond, Sam (August 31, 2017).
291:The character portrayed by actress
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656:Petski, Denise (3 February 2017).
606:. February 3, 2004. Archived from
16:American criminal defense attorney
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418:"Meet the Real Leslie Abramson"
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493:Waxman, Sharon (May 4, 1996).
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416:Dangremond, Sam (2017-08-31).
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165:. She began her career in the
1:
771:21st-century American lawyers
766:20th-century American lawyers
731:Lawyers from Queens, New York
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246:, where she was portrayed by
736:People from Flushing, Queens
305:, was inspired by Abramson.
220:. In 2004, she was hired by
123:
7:
284:, Abramson is portrayed by
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340:Abramson was married to a
315:Law & Order True Crime
136:, Abramson graduated from
116:. She is also a published
761:UCLA School of Law alumni
442:"All-Alumni Weekend 2007"
206:attorney–client privilege
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110:criminal defense attorney
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163:State Bar of California
577:. 2008. Archived from
495:"Sentenced to Silence"
114:Lyle and Erik Menéndez
299:sketch-comedy series
212:Post-Menéndez career
106:Leslie Hope Abramson
33:Leslie Hope Abramson
610:on December 9, 2006
243:Saturday Night Live
183:with a sentence of
746:California lawyers
702:Town & Country
551:. October 12, 1997
548:The New York Times
446:UCLA School of Law
422:Town & Country
403:Town & Country
302:Tracey Takes On...
268:Slobodan Milošević
236:In popular culture
195:The Menéndez trial
167:Los Angeles County
146:UCLA School of Law
66:UCLA School of Law
50:Flushing, New York
635:Los Angeles Times
347:Los Angeles Times
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157:Early career
144:(J.D.) from
142:Juris Doctor
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721:1943 births
324:Ari Graynor
270:(played by
262:(played by
715:Categories
614:2007-05-17
585:2007-05-17
528:2007-05-17
452:2008-05-17
427:2020-03-13
358:References
352:Tim Rutten
342:pharmacist
310:Edie Falco
91:(divorced)
89:Tim Rutten
77:Occupation
39:1943-10-06
350:reporter
308:In 2017,
189:Pakistani
185:probation
124:Education
58:Education
555:June 29,
522:Newsweek
134:New York
128:Born in
96:Children
80:Attorney
681:12 July
448:. 2007
266:) and
152:Career
118:author
85:Spouse
52:, U.S.
683:2018
643:2024
557:2010
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29:Born
604:CNN
297:HBO
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