History of F. Lee Bailey in Timeline
F. Lee Bailey, born Francis Lee Bailey Jr., was a renowned American criminal defense attorney. He gained national recognition during Sam Sheppard's second murder trial and went on to represent high-profile clients like Albert DeSalvo (suspect in the "Boston Strangler" murders), Patty Hearst (heiress involved in bank robberies), and Ernest Medina (US Army Captain involved in the My Lai Massacre). Bailey was also part of O. J. Simpson's "Dream Team" during his murder trial. He is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most prominent lawyers.
June 10, 1933: Birth of F. Lee Bailey
F. Lee Bailey, renowned American criminal defense attorney, was born on June 10, 1933 in Waltham, Massachusetts.
1950: Graduation from Kimball Union Academy
F. Lee Bailey graduated from Kimball Union Academy in 1950.
1952: Joins the United States Navy
F. Lee Bailey left Harvard College to enlist in the United States Navy in 1952.
1954: Becomes a Naval Aviator
After transferring to the Marine Corps and undergoing flight training, F. Lee Bailey earned his naval aviator wings in 1954.
1954: Sam Sheppard's Initial Conviction
Sam Sheppard was found guilty of murdering his wife, Marilyn, in 1954, a case that partly inspired the TV series "The Fugitive."
1957: Admitted to Boston University School of Law
Leveraging his military experience, F. Lee Bailey enrolled at Boston University School of Law in 1957.
1960: Graduates from Boston University School of Law
F. Lee Bailey graduated at the top of his class with an LL.B. from Boston University School of Law in 1960.
1961: Divorce from Florence Gott
F. Lee Bailey and Florence Gott divorced in 1961.
July 30, 1963: Murder of William Farber
Retired Army Col. William Farber was murdered on July 30, 1963.
1963: Premiere of "The Fugitive"
The television series "The Fugitive," partially inspired by the Sam Sheppard case, premiered in 1963.
1964: Defense of Albert DeSalvo
F. Lee Bailey took on the defense of Albert DeSalvo in 1964, who was accused in the "Green Man" sexual assault cases and allegedly confessed to the "Boston Strangler" murders.
August 28, 1965: Murder of Carmela Coppolino
Carmela Coppolino was murdered on August 28, 1965.
December 1966: Acquittal of Carl Coppolino in the Farber Case
F. Lee Bailey successfully defended Carl A. Coppolino in December 1966 against charges of murdering William Farber. However, Coppolino was later convicted of murdering his wife, Carmela Coppolino, in a separate Florida case.
1966: Sam Sheppard's Successful Appeal
F. Lee Bailey successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966, securing a retrial for Sam Sheppard and a subsequent not guilty verdict.
1967: Host of "Good Company" Television Series
F. Lee Bailey briefly hosted the ABC television series "Good Company" in 1967, interviewing celebrities in a format similar to Edward R. Murrow's "Person to Person."
1967: Conclusion of "The Fugitive"
The television series "The Fugitive" concluded in 1967.
November 30, 1969: "Paul is Dead" Mock Trial Television Special
F. Lee Bailey hosted an RKO television special on November 30, 1969, featuring a mock trial examining the "Paul is dead" rumor about Paul McCartney. The show, which included an expert who admitted to fabricating the rumor, aired only once in New York City.
1971: Defense of Ernest Medina
In 1971, F. Lee Bailey successfully defended U.S. Army Captain Ernest Medina in his court-martial related to the My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War.
1972: Divorce from Froma Portley, Marriage to Lynda Hart
In 1972, F. Lee Bailey divorced Froma Portley and married Lynda Hart in the same year.
1973: Indictment and Trial in Koscot Interplanetary Case
F. Lee Bailey was indicted on conspiracy and mail fraud charges in 1973 related to his involvement with Glenn W. Turner's multi-level marketing companies. The trial resulted in a hung jury.
April 28, 1975: Crocker Bank Robbery
Members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, including Patty Hearst, robbed a Crocker Bank branch in Carmichael, California, on April 28, 1975, resulting in a customer's death.
1975: Resolution of Koscot Interplanetary Case
The Koscot Interplanetary case, in which F. Lee Bailey was involved, saw Glenn W. Turner plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge in 1975, while charges against Bailey were dropped.
1977: Patty Hearst's Sentence Commuted
President Jimmy Carter commuted Patty Hearst's sentence in 1977 after she had served 22 months in prison.
1980: Divorce from Lynda Hart
F. Lee Bailey and Lynda Hart divorced in 1980.
February 28, 1982: Arrest for Drunk Driving and Subsequent Acquittal
F. Lee Bailey was arrested for drunk driving on February 28, 1982, in California. He was acquitted with the help of Robert Shapiro, whom he would later work with on the O. J. Simpson case. This experience led Bailey to write a book criticizing police conduct and drunk driving laws.
1982: F. Lee Bailey's DUI Case
In 1982, F. Lee Bailey faced charges in a lengthy drunk driving case in California. He was ultimately acquitted but incurred significant legal fees. This case challenged his claim of not having a drinking problem, which Patty Hearst had previously questioned.
1983: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 and Pan Am Flight 103 Controversies
F. Lee Bailey faced criticism for his handling of the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 case in 1983, with accusations of insufficient dedication to the case. Further controversy arose when he considered defending suspects in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
1983: Host of "Lie Detector" Television Show
In 1983, F. Lee Bailey hosted the syndicated television show "Lie Detector," where he interviewed guests who were then subjected to polygraph tests. The show had a short run.
1985: Marriage to Patricia Shiers
F. Lee Bailey married Patricia Shiers in 1985.
1994: Representation of Claude DuBoc and Subsequent Legal Battle
In 1994, F. Lee Bailey took on the case of Claude DuBoc, who was found guilty of drug trafficking. Bailey's involvement in this case would later lead to significant legal troubles for him, including imprisonment and disbarment.
1996: Imprisonment and Release, Disbarment
In 1996, F. Lee Bailey faced imprisonment for contempt of court related to the Claude DuBoc case but was released after his brother helped him return the disputed assets. However, this incident ultimately led to his disbarment in Florida in 2001 and Massachusetts in 2003.
1996: Imprisonment and Release
In 1996, F. Lee Bailey was imprisoned for contempt of court related to his handling of assets in the Claude DuBoc case. He was released after 44 days when his brother raised the necessary funds.
1998: Trial of Chantal and William McCorkle
F. Lee Bailey represented William McCorkle in a financial fraud case in 1998. The McCorkles were accused of misleading customers through their infomercials, leading to their conviction.
1999: Death of Patricia Shiers
Patricia Shiers, F. Lee Bailey's fourth wife, passed away in 1999.
2001: Disbarment in Massachusetts
F. Lee Bailey was disbarred in Massachusetts in 2001 for misconduct while defending Claude Louis DuBoc, accused of drug trafficking.
2001: Disbarment in Florida
In 2001, F. Lee Bailey was disbarred in Florida due to his handling of assets in the Claude DuBoc case, specifically his transfer of valuable stock into his own accounts. This event tarnished his reputation and led to further legal repercussions.
2001: Disbarment in Florida
In 2001, F. Lee Bailey was disbarred in Florida for his actions in the Claude DuBoc case. This event had a significant impact on his legal career and reputation.
2001: Patty Hearst Pardoned
President Bill Clinton pardoned Patty Hearst in 2001 for her role in bank robberies committed after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
April 11, 2003: Disbarment in Massachusetts
Following his disbarment in Florida in 2001, F. Lee Bailey faced reciprocal disbarment in Massachusetts on April 11, 2003. This marked a significant downturn in his legal career.
2003: Disbarment in Florida
Following his disbarment in Massachusetts, F. Lee Bailey faced similar consequences in Florida in 2003, losing his license to practice law.
2003: Tax Dispute and Order to Repay
In early 2003, F. Lee Bailey faced a legal battle with the IRS, resulting in a judge initially ordering him to pay millions in back taxes and penalties related to the Duboc case. The decision was later reversed, but a significant tax liability remained a point of contention.
March 2005: Unsuccessful Attempt to Regain Law License
In March 2005, F. Lee Bailey made an attempt to regain his law license in Massachusetts but was unsuccessful. He continued to face challenges related to his past legal troubles.
2006: Sentence Reduction for the McCorkles
Following appeals, Chantal and William McCorkle, whom F. Lee Bailey represented in their financial fraud case, had their sentences reduced to 18 years in 2006.
2009: Move to Maine and Consulting Business
In 2009, F. Lee Bailey relocated to Yarmouth, Maine, where he established a consulting firm, Bailey & Elliott, with his partner Debbie Elliott. This move marked a new chapter in his professional life.
2012: Maine Bar Examination and License Denial
Despite passing the Maine bar examination in 2012, F. Lee Bailey's application for a law license was initially denied. The board cited concerns about his past conduct, particularly his disbarment in other states.
March 2013: Hearing for Maine Law License Application
In March 2013, F. Lee Bailey attended a two-day hearing concerning his application for a Maine law license. The hearing, overseen by Justice Donald G. Alexander, aimed to determine Bailey's suitability to practice law after his previous disbarment.
April 19, 2013: Ruling on Maine Law License Application
After moving to Maine and passing the bar exam, F. Lee Bailey's application for a law license was denied. However, on April 19, 2013, Justice Donald G. Alexander suggested he could reapply if he addressed his outstanding tax debt, bringing a glimmer of hope to his legal career revival.
June 2013: Bailey's Attorney Files for Reconsideration for Maine Law License
In June 2013, Bailey's attorney, Peter DeTroy, filed a motion for reconsideration of the decision to deny Bailey a Maine law license. Justice Alexander granted the motion, potentially clearing the way for Bailey to practice law in Maine.
2013: Denied Law License in Maine
After relocating to Maine and establishing a consulting firm, F. Lee Bailey's application for a law license was rejected by the Maine Board of Bar Examiners in 2013.
April 10, 2014: Maine Supreme Court Denies Bailey's Law License
On April 10, 2014, the Maine Supreme Court overturned a previous decision that could have allowed Bailey to obtain a Maine law license, thus preventing him from practicing law in the state.
2014: Maine Supreme Judicial Court Upholds License Denial
Despite appealing the initial decision, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld the denial of F. Lee Bailey's law license application in 2014.
2016: Nathan Lane portrays Bailey in "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story"
Actor Nathan Lane portrayed F. Lee Bailey in the 2016 miniseries "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story".
2016: Bailey Operates Consulting Business in Maine
In 2016, Bailey was living in Maine and running a consulting business called Bailey & Elliott.
2016: Bailey Featured in "O.J.: Made in America" Documentary
The 2016 documentary "O.J.: Made in America", directed by Ezra Edelman, prominently features F. Lee Bailey through interviews and archival footage from the O.J. Simpson murder trial.
2019: Bailey Moves to Georgia
Around 2019, in his late 80s, Bailey decided to relocate to Georgia to be closer to his son, Scott, who had been involved in some of Bailey's business endeavors.
June 3, 2021: Death of F. Lee Bailey
F. Lee Bailey passed away on June 3, 2021.
2023: Luke Kirby portrays Bailey in "Boston Strangler"
Actor Luke Kirby portrayed F. Lee Bailey in the 2023 film "Boston Strangler".