David Feige
Encyclopedia
David Feige is an American
lawyer, legal commentator, and author. Feige began his legal career as a staff attorney at the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society
, and held positions at the Civilian Complaint Review Board of New York City and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, before becoming, in 1997, one of the founding members of the The Bronx Defenders. In 1999 Feige was promoted to Trial Chief. In March 2001, he filed the first motion for a double-blind sequential line up in People v. Leo Franco, spawning a series of legal challenges to eyewitness identification procedures around the country.
Feige is the author of Indefensible: One Lawyer's Journey into the Inferno of American Justice, which recounts his experiences as a public defender
in The Bronx
, New York City
. Subsequent to the publication of the book, he was sued for defamation by Sarah Schall (an assistant District Attorney) over his depiction of her as dowdy and corrupt, and by Mark Brenner, a criminal defense lawyer in the Bronx, for Feige's reporting that Brenner had kicked a client in open court. Both Schall's and Brenner's cases were dismissed with prejudice.
Feige is co-creator with Steven Bochco
of the TV series, Raising the Bar
, which debuted on TNT September 1, 2008 to the highest ratings for a pilot episode in the history of ad-supported cable television. The action takes place in the courthouses of New York City
and the show deals with issues similar to those of Indefensible, though with fictional characters. The show was renewed by the TNT Cable network despite mixed reviews and a decline in ratings after a very strong start. He is a co-writer for the upcoming The Firm.
Feige has appeared regularly on Court TV
, MSNBC
and National Public Radio to comment on legal issues. He has also written about the law for newspapers such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
, Washington Post and Boston Globe, and magazines like Fortune
, Slate
, and The Nation
. He was on the faculty of the National Criminal Defense College at Walter F. George School of Law
in Macon
, Georgia
, and is currently on leave as Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs at Seton Hall University
School of Law in Newark
, New Jersey
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, legal commentator, and author. Feige began his legal career as a staff attorney at the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
, and held positions at the Civilian Complaint Review Board of New York City and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, before becoming, in 1997, one of the founding members of the The Bronx Defenders. In 1999 Feige was promoted to Trial Chief. In March 2001, he filed the first motion for a double-blind sequential line up in People v. Leo Franco, spawning a series of legal challenges to eyewitness identification procedures around the country.
Feige is the author of Indefensible: One Lawyer's Journey into the Inferno of American Justice, which recounts his experiences as a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, 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...
. Subsequent to the publication of the book, he was sued for defamation by Sarah Schall (an assistant District Attorney) over his depiction of her as dowdy and corrupt, and by Mark Brenner, a criminal defense lawyer in the Bronx, for Feige's reporting that Brenner had kicked a client in open court. Both Schall's and Brenner's cases were dismissed with prejudice.
Feige is co-creator with Steven Bochco
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....
of the TV series, Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar (TV series)
Raising the Bar is an American legal drama, which ran on TNT network from September 1, 2008 to December 24, 2009. The series revolves around a group of lawyer friends who find themselves on opposite sides of the criminal law.-Production:...
, which debuted on TNT September 1, 2008 to the highest ratings for a pilot episode in the history of ad-supported cable television. The action takes place in the courthouses of 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...
and the show deals with issues similar to those of Indefensible, though with fictional characters. The show was renewed by the TNT Cable network despite mixed reviews and a decline in ratings after a very strong start. He is a co-writer for the upcoming The Firm.
Feige has appeared regularly 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...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and National Public Radio to comment on legal issues. He has also written about the law for newspapers such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Washington Post and Boston Globe, and magazines like Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
, Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
, and The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
. He was on the faculty of the National Criminal Defense College at Walter F. George School of Law
Walter F. George School of Law
The Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University, founded in 1873, is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and is the second oldest of Mercer's eleven colleges and schools. The School of Law, with approximately 420 students, is located in Macon, Georgia on its own campus one...
in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and is currently on leave as Professor of Law and Director of Advocacy Programs at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
School of Law in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
External links
- Seton Hall Faculty page
- http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/opinion/06feige.html?scp=1&sq=David+Feige&st=nyt
- http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/07/16/innocence_by_the_numbers/