Irving Kanarek
Encyclopedia
Irving A. Kanarek is a retired criminal defense attorney best known for representing Charles Manson
and "Onion Field"
killer Jimmy Lee Smith.
Kanarek's first career was as an aerospace engineer working for North American Aviation
(NAA), where he invented Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid
for the Army's Project Nike
.
On 12 July 1954 the US Air Force revoked Kanarek's security clearance and he was dismissed from NAA. Kanarek attended the University of Washington
as an undergraduate and Loyola Law School
. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1957.
-LaBianca prosecutor
Vincent Bugliosi
, Kanarek was legendary in Los Angeles courts for his dilatory, obstructionist tactics. In his book Helter Skelter
, Bugliosi claimed that Kanarek in a different case once objected to a witness identifying himself; the lawyer claimed it was hearsay because the witness had first heard it from his mother.
In the Tate-LaBianca trial, Kanarek objected nine times during opening statements, despite continuous censure by Judge Charles Older
. During a later objection, he called witness Linda Kasabian
insane, and by the third day of the trial, he had objected more than 200 times. During the trial he was sent to jail twice by Judge Older for being in contempt of court
. In his summation, Bugliosi dubbed Kanarek "the Toscanini of Tedium."
However, Bugliosi also felt Kanarek was the most effective of all the defense attorneys in the Tate-LaBianca trial. Kanarek frequently scored points and kept vital evidence out of the trial. According to Bugliosi, Kanarek fought as if he personally were on trial.
, a former co-worker of Kanarek at North American Aviation
. The character of Kanarek appears throughout most of the play.
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
and "Onion Field"
The Onion Field
The Onion Field is a 1973 nonfiction book by Joseph Wambaugh, a sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department, chronicling the kidnapping of two plainclothes LAPD officers by a pair of criminals during an evening traffic stop and the subsequent murder of Officer Ian James Campbell.- Crime :On the...
killer Jimmy Lee Smith.
Kanarek's first career was as an aerospace engineer working for North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
(NAA), where he invented Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid
Red fuming nitric acid
Red fuming nitric acid is a storable oxidizer used as a rocket propellant. It consists mainly of nitric acid , also containing 13% dinitrogen tetroxide and 3% water. The dissolved nitrogen dioxide is very concentrated and can be found at room temperature...
for the Army's Project Nike
Project Nike
Project Nike was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft missile system, the Nike Ajax, in 1953...
.
On 12 July 1954 the US Air Force revoked Kanarek's security clearance and he was dismissed from NAA. Kanarek attended the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
as an undergraduate and Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School
Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions, in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920. Like Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law , it...
. He was admitted to the California Bar in 1957.
Legal tactics
According to TateSharon Tate
Sharon Marie Tate was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small television roles before appearing in several films. After receiving positive reviews for her comedic performances, she was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for...
-LaBianca prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
Vincent Bugliosi
Vincent Bugliosi
Vincent Bugliosi is an American attorney and author, best known for prosecuting Charles Manson and other defendants accused of the Tate-LaBianca murders. His most recent books are Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy , The Prosecution of George W...
, Kanarek was legendary in Los Angeles courts for his dilatory, obstructionist tactics. In his book Helter Skelter
Helter Skelter (book)
Helter Skelter is a true crime book by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. The subject of the book is the 1969 Manson Family murders and Bugliosi's own prosecution of Charles Manson and his followers....
, Bugliosi claimed that Kanarek in a different case once objected to a witness identifying himself; the lawyer claimed it was hearsay because the witness had first heard it from his mother.
In the Tate-LaBianca trial, Kanarek objected nine times during opening statements, despite continuous censure by Judge Charles Older
Charles Older
Charles Herman "Chuck" Older was a member of the American Volunteer Group "The Flying Tigers" and one of its Aces. In his distinguished military career, he served in both World War II and the Korean War...
. During a later objection, he called witness Linda Kasabian
Linda Kasabian
Linda Kasabian is a former member of Charles Manson's "family". She was the key witness in District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi's prosecution of Manson and his followers for the Tate-LaBianca murders, one of the highest-profile murder trials in American history.-Early life:Born as Linda Darlene...
insane, and by the third day of the trial, he had objected more than 200 times. During the trial he was sent to jail twice by Judge Older for being in contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
. In his summation, Bugliosi dubbed Kanarek "the Toscanini of Tedium."
However, Bugliosi also felt Kanarek was the most effective of all the defense attorneys in the Tate-LaBianca trial. Kanarek frequently scored points and kept vital evidence out of the trial. According to Bugliosi, Kanarek fought as if he personally were on trial.
Popular culture
Several movies have been made of the Manson Family in which Irving Kanarek is portrayed. In November 2008, a stage play premiered at Caltech in Pasadena entitled Rocket Girl about the life of Mary Sherman MorganMary Sherman Morgan
Mary Sherman Morgan , was a U.S. rocket fuel scientist credited with the invention of the liquid fuel Hydyne in 1957, which allowed the United States to redeem its technological reputation after an earlier disastrous, and highly publicized, satellite launch attempt failure...
, a former co-worker of Kanarek at North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
. The character of Kanarek appears throughout most of the play.