Kathleen Zellner
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Zellner is an American
lawyer.
. She is the second oldest of eight children. Her father, Owen Daniel Thomas, was an engineer and geologist for Phillips Petroleum
in charge of its worldwide production and exploration. He was involved in the Ecofisk oil discovery in the North Sea and discoveries in South America, Asia, Africa and Europe. Her mother, Winifred M. Thomas, worked as a chemist and a registered nurse, retiring at age 82.
Zellner married Robert E. Zellner, Jr., while they were attending the University of Missouri
. Robert Zellner earned a Ph.D in economics and the couple moved to Montreal, Quebec. Zellner began her legal education at McGill College of Law
in its double degree program in French civil law and English common law. The couple returned to the U.S. residing in Memphis, Tennessee
and Chicago, Illinois. Robert Zellner was CEO of Citicorp Futures and Citicorp Commodities Corp. He was also CEO of several other trading companies and served on the Board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Zellner completed her legal education at Northern Illinois University College of Law
. She is licensed by the State of Illinois
, the United States Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and several federal district courts. She has represented clients in Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, California and Florida.
In 1994, Zellner persuaded Larry Eyler
to confess to 21 murders prior to his death. All 21 murder cases were closed. On the civil side, Zellner has won millions of dollars in civil jury trials and settlements. Recently, Zellner won $15.5 million dollars for the false arrest and malicious prosecution of Kevin Fox, who was incarcerated for 8 ½ months for the murder of his 3 year old daughter. His wife, Melissa, recovered for her loss of consortium and intentional infliction of emotional distress. From 1999–2000, Zellner won 5 multi-million jury verdicts.
will play Zellner in the upcoming feature film Privileged Information about the Eyler case. The screenplay is being written by Clayton Frohman, who co-authored the screenplay, Defiance, with Edward Zwick. The film is being produced by Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, Wendy Rhoads and Jim Lichtenstein.
Zellner has appeared on Dateline
, 20/20, A & E
, Oprah
and numerous local news programs. Her cases have been profiled in the New York Times, LA Times Magazine, Boston Herald
, National Law Journal, Chicago Tribune
, USA Today
, American Bar Journal, Chicago Sun Times and numerous local papers across the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer.
Early life
Zellner was born in Midland, TexasMidland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
. She is the second oldest of eight children. Her father, Owen Daniel Thomas, was an engineer and geologist for Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by L.E. Phillips and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their younger brother Waite Phillips was the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch....
in charge of its worldwide production and exploration. He was involved in the Ecofisk oil discovery in the North Sea and discoveries in South America, Asia, Africa and Europe. Her mother, Winifred M. Thomas, worked as a chemist and a registered nurse, retiring at age 82.
Zellner married Robert E. Zellner, Jr., while they were attending the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. Robert Zellner earned a Ph.D in economics and the couple moved to Montreal, Quebec. Zellner began her legal education at McGill College of Law
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in its double degree program in French civil law and English common law. The couple returned to the U.S. residing in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and Chicago, Illinois. Robert Zellner was CEO of Citicorp Futures and Citicorp Commodities Corp. He was also CEO of several other trading companies and served on the Board of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Zellner completed her legal education at Northern Illinois University College of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law is a law school in DeKalb, Illinois. The College offers the Juris Doctor degree in both full-time and part-time programs.-History:...
. She is licensed by the State of Illinois
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. Approximately 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, in which membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of lawyers licensed to practice in...
, the United States Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and several federal district courts. She has represented clients in Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Texas, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, California and Florida.
Career
Zellner started her law firm in January 1991. The firm represents both civil and criminal clients. She has obtained the exoneration of 10 wrongfully convicted men. Zellner has handled many of these cases pro bono. In one case, she obtained the release of death row inmate Joseph Burrows by persuading the real killer to confess to the murder. The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the trial court decision releasing Burrows from death row. In November 2009 Zellner began working to obtain Ryan Ferguson's release from prison.In 1994, Zellner persuaded Larry Eyler
Larry Eyler
Larry Eyler was an American serial killer convicted and sentenced to death for the 1984 murder and dismemberment of 15-year old Daniel Bridges. He confessed to 21 other homicides of young men and boys in five separate states...
to confess to 21 murders prior to his death. All 21 murder cases were closed. On the civil side, Zellner has won millions of dollars in civil jury trials and settlements. Recently, Zellner won $15.5 million dollars for the false arrest and malicious prosecution of Kevin Fox, who was incarcerated for 8 ½ months for the murder of his 3 year old daughter. His wife, Melissa, recovered for her loss of consortium and intentional infliction of emotional distress. From 1999–2000, Zellner won 5 multi-million jury verdicts.
Media coverage
Jessica BielJessica Biel
Jessica Claire Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer. Biel is known for her television role as Mary Camden in the long-running family-drama series 7th Heaven...
will play Zellner in the upcoming feature film Privileged Information about the Eyler case. The screenplay is being written by Clayton Frohman, who co-authored the screenplay, Defiance, with Edward Zwick. The film is being produced by Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, Wendy Rhoads and Jim Lichtenstein.
Zellner has appeared on Dateline
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
, 20/20, A & E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, Oprah
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
and numerous local news programs. Her cases have been profiled in the New York Times, LA Times Magazine, Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
, National Law Journal, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, American Bar Journal, Chicago Sun Times and numerous local papers across the U.S.
Awards
- One of America's Top Ten Litigators - National Law Journal August 14, 2000
- Lawdragon Top 500 attorneys in the United States in all areas of law. November, 2009
- Top 50 Women Litigators in the United States - December 17, 2001 National Law Journal
- Top Ten Women Lawyers in Illinois - Illinois Leading Lawyers Magazine December 2009
- Pro bono attorney of the year - November 2001