Gladys Root
Encyclopedia
Gladys Towles Root was a successful criminal defense
attorney
in Los Angeles, California
known for her piercing cross-examination
s. Root was forced to specialize in sexual assault and murder cases because no other work was available to her.
There were very few women practicing law when Root graduated from USC School of Law
in 1930. Root was unable to obtain employment and decided to open her own practice. Gladys Towles Root opened her office at 212 South Hill Street, Los Angeles California, the former location of the legendary Rainbow Saloon.
Because no other work was available to her, Root began defending rape and murder cases. She became so skilled that by the early 1960s young prosecutors and defense attorneys would gather to watch her cross-examination
of prosecuting witnesses.
In July 1964 an indictment was issued against Gladys by the Federal Grand Jury in connection with her actions during her defense of one of the defendants in the kidnapping case of Frank Sinatra, Jr.
, the teenage son of Frank Sinatra
. Three men had kidnapped Frank Sinatra Jr. from across the California-Nevada state line at Lake Tahoe and transported him to Los Angeles. The kidnappers collected US$240,000 ransom. Gladys was hired to defend one of the kidnappers, John William Irwin, and defended him with zeal. Charges were brought against Gladys based on her allegedly fabricating the story that the young singer concocted the kidnapping for publicity reasons. Gladys was indicted in 1964 on charges of conspiracy, suborning perjury
, and obstruction of justice
. The charges were dropped in 1968.
Root fought with the Internal Revenue Service
, beginning in the 1970s. The IRS contended that she owed more than $230,000 in back taxes when interest and penalties were included. She fought the judgment and lost in the federal appeals court in 1977. She attempted to appeal to the United States Supreme Court but the highest court in the land refused to hear the case.
She presented a flamboyant figure in the courtroom. She was especially known for the large, dramatic hats she almost always wore to court.
courtroom of a heart attack at age 77. She was in court to defend one of two brothers (David Brockway defended the other) accused of rape. On the day of her death, Gladys was attired completely in purple (the color of law).
Gladys was buried at Forest Lawn Glendale
. She was buried in a gold dress with Madonna earrings.
Root defended thousands of cases. Here are a sample of some of them
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
attorney
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...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
known for her piercing cross-examination
Cross-examination
In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination and may be followed by a redirect .- Variations by Jurisdiction :In...
s. Root was forced to specialize in sexual assault and murder cases because no other work was available to her.
Early life
Root was the daughter of Clara Dexter Towles and Charles Towles of Los Angeles. She was born in 1905 and grew up in comfortable surroundings.There were very few women practicing law when Root graduated from USC School of Law
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
in 1930. Root was unable to obtain employment and decided to open her own practice. Gladys Towles Root opened her office at 212 South Hill Street, Los Angeles California, the former location of the legendary Rainbow Saloon.
Because no other work was available to her, Root began defending rape and murder cases. She became so skilled that by the early 1960s young prosecutors and defense attorneys would gather to watch her cross-examination
Cross-examination
In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination and may be followed by a redirect .- Variations by Jurisdiction :In...
of prosecuting witnesses.
Legal career
Root served as president of the Southern California Women Lawyers in 1945.In July 1964 an indictment was issued against Gladys by the Federal Grand Jury in connection with her actions during her defense of one of the defendants in the kidnapping case of Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
, the teenage son of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
. Three men had kidnapped Frank Sinatra Jr. from across the California-Nevada state line at Lake Tahoe and transported him to Los Angeles. The kidnappers collected US$240,000 ransom. Gladys was hired to defend one of the kidnappers, John William Irwin, and defended him with zeal. Charges were brought against Gladys based on her allegedly fabricating the story that the young singer concocted the kidnapping for publicity reasons. Gladys was indicted in 1964 on charges of conspiracy, suborning perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, and obstruction of justice
Obstruction of justice
The crime of obstruction of justice, in United States jurisdictions, refers to the crime of interfering with the work of police, investigators, regulatory agencies, prosecutors, or other officials...
. The charges were dropped in 1968.
Root fought with the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, beginning in the 1970s. The IRS contended that she owed more than $230,000 in back taxes when interest and penalties were included. She fought the judgment and lost in the federal appeals court in 1977. She attempted to appeal to the United States Supreme Court but the highest court in the land refused to hear the case.
She presented a flamboyant figure in the courtroom. She was especially known for the large, dramatic hats she almost always wore to court.
Death
On Tuesday, December 21, 1982, Gladys Towles Root colapsed and died in the arms of her protege David Brockway Esq. during an appearance in a Los Angeles Superior Court PomonaPomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
courtroom of a heart attack at age 77. She was in court to defend one of two brothers (David Brockway defended the other) accused of rape. On the day of her death, Gladys was attired completely in purple (the color of law).
Gladys was buried at Forest Lawn Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
. She was buried in a gold dress with Madonna earrings.
External links
- Rasmussen, Cecelia Zzyzx An Unlikely Home of Hucksterism and Miracle Cures
- Noe, Denise When the Law Was A Man's World Court TV Bio
- Danielsson, Charlotte A. The Lady in Purple Gladys Towles Root Stanford Law School Women's Legal History (1997)
- Lawyers Hall of Fame - Gladys Root
- Killings, Cars and Taxes
Root defended thousands of cases. Here are a sample of some of them