Kuntsler, William (1919–1995)

William Kuntsler was a civil rights attorney best known for his work defending the so-called Chicago Seven. Kuntsler earned his B.A. degree from Yale in 1941 and upon his return from military service in World War II, Kuntsler earned his J.D. from Columbia University in 1948. Kuntsler's legal work for civil rights ranged from working along side Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to defending the comedian Lenny Bruce from obscenity charges.

Kuntsler gained prominence on the national stage during the trial of the Chicago Seven: Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner. Bobby Seale was originally on trial with the rest of the Chicago Seven, but was eventually severed from the case. The Chicago Seven were charged with conspiracy, as well as violating the “H. Rap Brown Statute”: crossing state lines with the intent to incite a riot. Kuntsler conducted cross-examinations with what would later become his trademark: eyeglasses propped atop his head, theatrics, and rhetorical aplomb. The Chicago Seven defendants were acquitted on the charges of conspiracy, but with the exception of Froines and Weiner, all were convicted of violating the H. Rap Brown Statute. Kuntsler was sentenced to 4 years and 13 days in prison for 24 counts of contempt of court as a result if his courtroom theatrics. All but two of these charges were later overturned on appeal and Kuntsler was not forced to serve time in prison.

Kuntsler had worked as a general practice lawyer until 1961 when the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent Kuntsler to Mississippi to work with the [Page 809]Freedom Riders to overturn Jim Crow Laws in the South mandating the segregation of races in public accommodations such as buses and water fountains. Other notable clients of Kuntsler include Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) chairperson H. Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael, U.S. Represetative Adam Clayton Powell, and peace activists Dan and Phillip Berrigan.

In addition to his work inside the courtroom, Kuntsler served as director of the ACLU from 1964 to 1972, acted as an intermediary between prison authorities and prisoners during the Attica prison uprising, and became chief negotiator between American Indian Movement (AIM) activists and government forces at the second occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973. Kuntsler went on to successfully defend AIM activist Russell Means during his trial on charges resulting from the occupation of Wounded Knee.

Later in his career, Kuntsler worked with the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization (ILGO) in order to stop New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade after the ILGO was barred from participating. In 1989 and 1990, Kuntsler successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that flag burning was a protected form of free speech covered under the First Amendment of the Constitution.