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By: J. Anthony Perez, Esq.
J. Anthony Perez
Attorney ~ Historian ~ Author
J. Anthony Perez spent a thirty year legal career evaluating the accused and their criminal cases. He served criminal justice as a trial and appellate attorney from both sides of the isle - prosecution and defense.
As an Assistant District Attorney, he handled thousands of criminal cases, including imprisoning those responsible for bank robbery and homicide (the favorite capers of Chesimard and the Black Liberation Army). As a prosecutor, he tried hundreds of cases to judges and juries, and often spearheaded cases which resulted in lengthy prison sentences, including LIFE, for the most violent offenders. He also had the opportunity to teach police officers proper constitutional procedure. Mr. Perez participated in raids and search warrant executions with various police agencies where he was able to get a feel for the streets.
For two decades as a private defense attorney, Mr. Perez achieved Not Guilty verdicts on behalf of his clients, including many minority defendants. After trying the required number of jury trials, receiving several judicial recommendations, and passing a rigorous examination, he was officially certified as an “expert” Criminal Trial Lawyer by his state bar - an achievement realized by only 1% of attorneys.
As an appellate lawyer, Mr. Perez examined police reports, researched trial records, and authored appeals seeking to have convictions and prison sentences overturned. He was successful numerous times, identifying legal errors made by trial judges at various stages of the case (something Chesimard urges occurred in her case). Mr. Perez vigorously held the government to account and even filed lawsuits against police agencies when they ran afoul of the law, and harmed his clients.
Mr. Perez has been a student of history for decades and is a member of several historical societies. OUTRAGEOUS HERO is his debut work in the field of historical non-fiction, biography and social commentary He is well suited to weigh through the facts and myths of the Chesimard saga, and produce an objective and compelling account of her life and crimes.