Bruce Cutler
Encyclopedia
Bruce Cutler is an American
criminal defense lawyer
known for defending organized-crime defendants, and for media appearances as an actor, a legal commentator, and a reality-show attorney.
His father, Murray Cutler, was a former New York City
detective who later became a criminal defense attorney.
Cutler—and his brother Rich, a federal prosecutor in San Jose
, California
before joining the law firm Dechert in 2007—grew up in Brooklyn and were good athletes. They spent many summers at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York
.
Bruce Cutler graduated from Hamilton College where he was captain of the football
and lacrosse
teams, and graduated cum laude
from Brooklyn Law School
. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney
in Kings County, and became its top homicide
prosecutor.
Cutler gained notoriety in the 1980s when he won three acquittals for Gambino Crime Family
leader John Gotti
(including one where at least one juror accepted a bribe in return for voting to find Gotti not guilty).
When Gotti, then a crime boss
, was indicted in 1990 for the 1985 murder of Paul Castellano
, the court disqualified Cutler and two associates from representing Gotti, accepting the prosecutors' claim that, as "in-house counsel" to the Gambino crime family
, they could be called to testify in the case.
Cutler appeared in the Robert De Niro
and Ed Burns
film, 15 Minutes
, playing himself. He also appeared on Court TV
, with attorney Ed Hayes
, discussing criminal cases and current events on Cutler and Hayes, and on the CW network has his own TV show, Jury Duty, one of the most controversial shows in the court-tv market. He is Godfather to Hayes' daughter, Avery.
Cutler's autobiography was published in 2003.
Cutler had served as the lead defense attorney for Phil Spector
until August 27, 2007, when he announced that he was leaving Spector's defense due to "a difference of opinion between Mr. Spector and me on strategy."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
criminal defense lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
known for defending organized-crime defendants, and for media appearances as an actor, a legal commentator, and a reality-show attorney.
His father, Murray Cutler, was a former New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
detective who later became a criminal defense attorney.
Cutler—and his brother Rich, a federal prosecutor in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before joining the law firm Dechert in 2007—grew up in Brooklyn and were good athletes. They spent many summers at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
.
Bruce Cutler graduated from Hamilton College where he was captain of the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
teams, and graduated cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
. He worked as an Assistant District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
in Kings County, and became its top homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
prosecutor.
Cutler gained notoriety in the 1980s when he won three acquittals for Gambino Crime Family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
leader John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
(including one where at least one juror accepted a bribe in return for voting to find Gotti not guilty).
When Gotti, then a crime boss
Crime boss
A crime boss or boss is a person in charge of a criminal organization. A boss typically has absolute or near-absolute control over his subordinates, is greatly feared by his subordinates for his ruthlessness and willingness to take lives in order to exert his influence, and profits come from the...
, was indicted in 1990 for the 1985 murder of Paul Castellano
Paul Castellano
Constantino Paul "Big Paul" Castellano , also known as "The Howard Hughes of the Mob" and "Big Paulie" , was an American Mafia boss in New York City. He succeeded Carlo Gambino as head of the Gambino crime family, at the time, the nation's largest Mafia family...
, the court disqualified Cutler and two associates from representing Gotti, accepting the prosecutors' claim that, as "in-house counsel" to the Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
, they could be called to testify in the case.
Cutler appeared in the Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
and Ed Burns
Ed Burns
Ed Burns is a producer, screenwriter, and novelist. He has worked closely with writing partner David Simon. They have collaborated on The Corner and The Wire . Burns is a former Baltimore police detective for the Homicide and Narcotics divisions, and a public school teacher...
film, 15 Minutes
15 Minutes
15 Minutes is a 2001 film starring Robert De Niro , Edward Burns and Karel Roden. It is about a homicide detective and a fire marshal who must stop a couple of Eastern European murderers from videotaping their killing and becoming sensationalized by the media. Melina Kanakaredes and Kelsey Grammer,...
, playing himself. He also appeared on Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
, with attorney Ed Hayes
Eddie Hayes (lawyer)
Edward Walter Hayes is an American lawyer, journalist, and memoirist. He is known for his role in settling the estate of Andy Warhol and representing several organized crime figures.-Early life:...
, discussing criminal cases and current events on Cutler and Hayes, and on the CW network has his own TV show, Jury Duty, one of the most controversial shows in the court-tv market. He is Godfather to Hayes' daughter, Avery.
Cutler's autobiography was published in 2003.
Cutler had served as the lead defense attorney for Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
until August 27, 2007, when he announced that he was leaving Spector's defense due to "a difference of opinion between Mr. Spector and me on strategy."
External links
- CW network Jury Duty site