Theodore I. Koskoff
Encyclopedia
Theodore I. "Ted" Koskoff (June 23, 1913–March 13, 1989) was an American
trial lawyer. Described as "one of Connecticut's
most widely known trial lawyers," Koskoff was the chairman of the Bridgeport, Connecticut
-based Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder law firm
and led several legal professional associations.
Koskoff was born in New Haven, Connecticut
on June 23, 1913, and was as the youngest of seven children born to Israel and Hattie Koskoff. He graduated from Wesleyan University
and received his law degree from Boston University School of Law
in 1936. He was a solo practitioner
from 1937 until 1972, when he became chairman of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, which also included his son and partner Michael P. Koskoff. Koskoff was lead defense counsel in the New Haven Black Panther trials
of the 1970s and represented Black Panther
Lonnie McLucas
, who was charged with kidnapping
and conspiracy
. Koskoff also represented Glen Turner
and F. Lee Bailey.
Koskoff as "well-known for his efforts to improve the image of his profession and to persuade his colleagues to give legal assistance to people unable to obtain it on their own." He served as president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
(ATLA) from 1979 to 1980. He also served as president of its Connecticut affiliate, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Koskoff also founded and was chairman of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a board certification
organization, and founded the Roscoe Pound-American Trial Lawyers Foundation (now the Pound Civil Justice Institute). Koskoff was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Advocacy College educational programs at several law school
s across the country.
Koskoff died in 1989 at the age of 75 of a heart attack while being driven to a doctor's office in Milford
. At the time of his death he lived in Westport
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trial lawyer. Described as "one of Connecticut's
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
most widely known trial lawyers," Koskoff was the chairman of the Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
-based Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
and led several legal professional associations.
Koskoff was born in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
on June 23, 1913, and was as the youngest of seven children born to Israel and Hattie Koskoff. He graduated from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
and received his law degree from Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
in 1936. He was a solo practitioner
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
from 1937 until 1972, when he became chairman of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, which also included his son and partner Michael P. Koskoff. Koskoff was lead defense counsel in the New Haven Black Panther trials
New Haven Black Panther trials
In 1970 there were a series of criminal prosecutions in New Haven, Connecticut against various members of the Black Panther Party. The charges ranged from criminal conspiracy to felony murder. All indictments stemmed from the murder of nineteen-year-old Alex Rackley in the early hours of May 21,...
of the 1970s and represented Black Panther
Black panther
A black panther is typically a melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat. Wild black panthers in Latin America are black jaguars , in Asia and Africa they are black leopards , and in North America they may be black jaguars or possibly black cougars A black panther is...
Lonnie McLucas
Lonnie McLucas
Lonnie McLucas was a Black Panther Party member in Bridgeport, Connecticut who was found guilty of the May 21, 1969 murder of New York Panther Alex Rackley, in the first of the New Haven Black Panther trials in 1970. Rackley had been held and tortured at New Haven, Connecticut Panther headquarters...
, who was charged with kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
and conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
. Koskoff also represented Glen Turner
Glen Turner
Glen Turner is a former professional rugby league player who played for the Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders. He played as a second row or lock.-Playing career:...
and F. Lee Bailey.
Koskoff as "well-known for his efforts to improve the image of his profession and to persuade his colleagues to give legal assistance to people unable to obtain it on their own." He served as president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
The American Association for Justice , formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America is the leading organization for lawyers representing plaintiffs in the United States...
(ATLA) from 1979 to 1980. He also served as president of its Connecticut affiliate, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. Koskoff also founded and was chairman of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a board certification
Board certification
Board certification is the process by which a physician , dentist , or podiatrist in the United States demonstrates through either written, practical, and/or simulator based testing, a mastery of the basic knowledge and skills that define an area of medical specialization...
organization, and founded the Roscoe Pound-American Trial Lawyers Foundation (now the Pound Civil Justice Institute). Koskoff was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Advocacy College educational programs at several law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
s across the country.
Koskoff died in 1989 at the age of 75 of a heart attack while being driven to a doctor's office in Milford
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
. At the time of his death he lived in Westport
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
.