Gerald Zerkin
Encyclopedia
Gerald T. Zerkin is a senior assistant federal
public defender
in Richmond, Va
. He attended Brandeis University
, where he received his Bachelor's degree
in 1971, University of Virginia
where he received his Master's degree
in 1976, and Boston College
, where he received his degree in Law
, also in 1976.
inmates in 1980, including Earl Washington
. He has specialized in death penalty defense and civil rights
. At their annual dinner in 1999, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) awarded Zerkin, praising him as an "expert capital case litigator." In 2001, Zerkin joined the public defender's office.
. Associates have commented on Zerkin's "dedication and willingness to live away from home to work the Moussaoui case." (Forbes.com) Zerkin has argued strongly for a life imprisonment sentence for Moussaoui, declaring that the defendant
wanted a death sentence so that he could be a shahid (martyr), despite statements from Moussaoui indicating that he would like to live and "fight" and that he believes he will be released from prison. Zerkin further insisted that his client was schizophrenic and was not actually aware of Al Qaeda's plot to fly planes into the World Trade Center
towers and other strategic targets, despite Moussaoui's protests to the contrary. Moussaoui had complained about his government appointed lawyers on a number of occasions, calling Zerkin "Jewish Zealot Zerkin" and "Jew Zerkin", and complaining of "misconduct and ineffective assistance" on the part of his lawyers'. During jury selection
, Zerkin successfully prevented a colleague of a 9/11 victim from presiding on the jury, calling him unfit, though the man stated that he had not attended the victim's funeral and did not believe that all terrorists
should receive the death penalty. In contrast, Zerkin successfully campaigned for a county government worker who described herself as a "liberal
" to be on the jury, though she had proclaimed on a jury questionnaire
: "I don't think we have the right to take anyone's life."
Zerkin heads Zerkin & Associates.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
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 Richmond, Va
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He attended Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, where he received his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1971, University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he received his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1976, and Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, where he received his degree in Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, also in 1976.
Defending death row inmates
He began private practice in 1978, and began his work defending death rowDeath row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
inmates in 1980, including Earl Washington
Earl Washington
Earl Washington Jr. is a former Virginia death-row inmate, charged in 1982 with rape and murder. Washington, with an IQ estimated at 69, confessed to the crime, but apparently only after being coerced by investigators. In 1994, DNA evidence indicated that he was not responsible for the crimes for...
. He has specialized in death penalty defense and civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
. At their annual dinner in 1999, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) awarded Zerkin, praising him as an "expert capital case litigator." In 2001, Zerkin joined the public defender's office.
Defending Zacarias Moussaoui
He has gained further notability for leading the defense, along with Edward B. McMahon Jr., of the trial of Al Qaeda member Zacarias MoussaouiZacarias Moussaoui
Zacarias Moussaoui is a French citizen who was convicted of conspiring to kill citizens of the US as part of the September 11 attacks...
. Associates have commented on Zerkin's "dedication and willingness to live away from home to work the Moussaoui case." (Forbes.com) Zerkin has argued strongly for a life imprisonment sentence for Moussaoui, declaring that the defendant
Defendant
A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute...
wanted a death sentence so that he could be a shahid (martyr), despite statements from Moussaoui indicating that he would like to live and "fight" and that he believes he will be released from prison. Zerkin further insisted that his client was schizophrenic and was not actually aware of Al Qaeda's plot to fly planes into the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
towers and other strategic targets, despite Moussaoui's protests to the contrary. Moussaoui had complained about his government appointed lawyers on a number of occasions, calling Zerkin "Jewish Zealot Zerkin" and "Jew Zerkin", and complaining of "misconduct and ineffective assistance" on the part of his lawyers'. During jury selection
Jury selection
Jury selection are many methods used to choose the people who will serve on a trial jury. The jury pool is first selected from among the community using a reasonably random method. The prospective jurors are then questioned in court by the judge and/or attorneys...
, Zerkin successfully prevented a colleague of a 9/11 victim from presiding on the jury, calling him unfit, though the man stated that he had not attended the victim's funeral and did not believe that all terrorists
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
should receive the death penalty. In contrast, Zerkin successfully campaigned for a county government worker who described herself as a "liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
" to be on the jury, though she had proclaimed on a jury questionnaire
Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case...
: "I don't think we have the right to take anyone's life."
Zerkin heads Zerkin & Associates.