11 Things You Should Know About Leslie Abramson, the Menendez Brothers' Attorney

11 Things You Should Know About Leslie Abramson, the Menendez Brothers' Attorney.

Attorney for the Menendez Brothers Leslie Abramson gained fame through the Menendez brothers' trial, but her career includes representing other high-profile clients, authoring books, and even making an appearance on Saturday Night Live. The new Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, delves into the murders and the trial that captivated the nation, alongside a documentary titled The Menendez Brothers.

With renewed media focus and emerging evidence, Abramson has stated, "I make no comments about my clients. None whatsoever. Attorney-client privilege never dies." Here are some important details about Leslie Abramson.

FACT #1

She began her professional journey as a public defender. Leslie Hope Abramson was born on October 6, 1943, in Queens, New York. After completing her studies at Queens College and law school at UCLA, she became a member of the California State Bar in 1970. She dedicated six years to the Los Angeles County Public Defender's office.

FACT #2

In her private practice, she developed a fierce reputation. After her tenure at the public defender's office, she launched her own practice and became recognized for her aggressive strategies. The Los Angeles Times described her as a "4-foot-11, fire-eating, mud-slinging, nuclear-strength pain in the legal butt," highlighting her tenacity. Abramson was honored as trial lawyer of the year by the L.A. Criminal Courts Bar Association on two occasions.

Erik and Lyle Menendez

FACT #3

She represented notable clients even before the Menendez brothers came into the picture. In October 1990, Dominick Dunne noted that Abramson was regarded as the most exceptional defense attorney in Los Angeles for death penalty cases. Earlier that January, Abramson successfully secured an acquittal for Dr. Khalid Parwez, a gynecologist from Pakistan who faced charges of strangling and dismembering his 11-year-old son. In 1988, a 17-year-old client named Arnel Salvatierra was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, reduced from first-degree murder, in the death of his father, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. He received probation after Abramson argued that the deceased father had a history of child abuse during the trial. Marcia Morrissey, Abramson's co-counsel, described the sentence as "appropriate."

FACT #4

She gained national recognition for her representation of Erik Menendez. Abramson took on Erik's case about six months after the tragic murder of his parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989. The brothers were apprehended for the crime in March 1990. "In my 27 years of representing individuals charged with murder, I've never encountered anyone quite like these two," she shared with the Washington Post. "They are not murderers; they are young people who faced immense challenges in a horrific home situation, and they broke under the pressure."

FACT #5

She was furious when the brothers received life sentences without the chance of parole in 1996. Their initial trials resulted in two juries that couldn't reach a decision. However, after being retried, on April 17, 1996, the final jury recommended a life sentence for the Menendez brothers, with no possibility of parole. Abramson contended that Jose and Kitty Menendez had subjected their sons to years of emotional and sexual abuse, effectively "pushing their sons into killing them," as reported by the Los Angeles Times. At a press conference, Abramson expressed, "I see it as exceedingly cruel and heartless," regarding the verdict.

FACT #6

The California State Bar looked into Abramson for possible ethical breaches, but ultimately found her innocent. It was reported that she requested Dr. William Vicary, a psychiatrist and defense witness, to remove certain privileged information from his notes during Erik's trial. In February 1999, the State Bar of California concluded its investigation into Abramson due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Related: OJ Simpson and the Menendez Brothers

FACT #7

She made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. In a sketch from October 23, 1993, John Malkovich played Lyle Menendez, Rob Schneider took on the role of Erik Menendez, Phil Hartman portrayed Judge Stanley Weisberg, and Julia Sweeney acted as Leslie Abramson.

FACT #8

She released a book titled The Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Law in 1997. You can find it on Amazon, and the New York Times described it as "a captivating and maddening account of her most infamous murder trials."

FACT #9

She resides in Los Angeles. In 2001, she and her husband, Tim Rutten, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, relocated to a Craftsman-style house just outside the city. According to the Times, the "3,200-square-foot residence features a yard spacious enough for both vegetable and flower gardens, along with a pool, which was essential for her 7-year-old son." (Abramson adopted her son "near the end of the first Menendez trial.") She also has an older daughter, Laine, from her first marriage to a pharmacist, which ended in divorce in 1969. Tim Rutten passed away in 2022 after a fall at home. At the time of his death, he and Abramson were divorced but reportedly maintained a close relationship.

FACT #10

In 2004, music producer Phil Spector enlisted her services as his representative. He faced charges for the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson, which occurred on February 3, 2003, at his hilltop residence. Abramson took over from one of O.J. Simpson's defense lawyers, Robert Shapiro, but was later succeeded in 2004 by Bruce Cutler, who was known for representing John Gotti. Unfortunately, the partnership between Abramson and Spector seemed to be fraught with tension; Dunne reported on a public disagreement they had during an unplanned press conference on May 7, 2004. During this incident, Abramson reportedly remarked, "Philip, please, darling, I do wish you wouldn't say things," after Spector interrupted her. She later stated, "We were put in an untenable position, and we were forced to resign." (Spector was ultimately found guilty of murder in 2009.)

FACT #11

She chose not to participate in an interview for Netflix's The Menendez Brothers. In an email to the producers, Abramson stated, "Thirty years is quite a stretch of time. I prefer to keep the past where it belongs. No amount of media attention or petitions from teenagers will change the outcome for these clients. Only the courts have that power, and they have made their decision."