Jay Goldberg
Jay Goldberg is an American lawyer and author based in New York City. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, he is a scholar of United States constitutional law and criminal law. He is best known for his representation of high-profile clients and cases, including President Donald Trump throughout his divorces and several real estate transactions. After Goldberg began his career in New York working for legendary District Attorney Frank S. Hogan and was appointed acting United States Attorney for the Northwestern District of Indiana, by appointment of then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Goldberg has represented Bono, Mick Jagger, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones, Sean Combs, Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, industrialist Dr. Armand Hammer, investor Carl Icahn, Congressman Charlie Rangel, Bess Meyerson, the Hells Angels, Howard Stern Wack Packer Elegant Elliot Offen, and key figures associated with the American Mafia including Matty "The Horse" Ianniello, Joe "Scarface" Agone, Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes", and Frank Tieri.
Early life
Goldberg was born January 2, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. As a youth, he took a keen interest in sports, including baseball, football and basketball, but a passion for competitive boxing soon eclipsed an interest in other sports. He spent considerable time at the legendary boxing gym owned by Lou Stillman where he began a long term relationship with Rocky Graziano, a relationship he maintained until Graziano died in 1990.He attended Brooklyn College, graduating magna cum laude and was elected as early as his junior year to Phi Beta Kappa. After college he considered a career in the law, influenced by his many visits to the federal and state courts in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He graduated from Harvard Law School magna cum laude. During law school he met Regina "Rema" Goldberg at a Concord Resort Hotel mixer "single weekend." Rema and he were married at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. She serves as a jury consultant to attorneys.
Career
Goldberg began his career as an assistant district attorney in New York County right out of Harvard Law School working for district attorney Frank S. Hogan.Former President of the Criminal Bar Association Richard Levitt called Goldberg "one of the foremost litigators of this or any generation." On the night Goldberg was recognized with an award from the Criminal Bar Association, former Chief of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office S.D.N.Y. Frederick Hafetz said: "I consider you to have the best killer trial skills I have ever seen in my 47 years of practice, and I have worked with the best, courtroom presence, capturing the jury's attention through devastating cross and summations that have jurors on the edge of their seats."
In a review of Preparation and Trial of Criminal Cases Within the Second Circuit, New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Lonschein wrote: " holds the distinction of being one of the most skilled, if not the most skilled trial lawyer in the United States." Former President of the Criminal Bar Association Richard Levitt called Goldberg "one of the foremost litigators of this or any generation."
On September 22, 2011, he was honored by members of the United States Congress for his dedication and study of the principles of the United States Constitution.
Published works
Goldberg is the author of four books: Preparation and Trial of Criminal Cases Within the Second Circuit "Techniques in the Defense of a Federal Criminal Case",, "Preparation, and Trial of A Federal Criminal Case, and "The Courtroom Is My Theatre," a personal account of his storied legal career.In a review of Preparation and Trial of Criminal Cases Within the Second Circuit,'' New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Lonschein wrote: " holds the distinction of being one of the most skilled, if not the most skilled trial lawyer in the United States." He completed his military service with rank of Lt. Colonel. He was profiled by Robin Leach on the TV program Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, and has appeared as a guest legal analyst on news programs including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC and Charlie Rose.
Publications
- "The Response of The Supreme Court for the Civil War Amendment In The Period Between 1866 and 1900," October 2011.
- "The Second Circuit Offers a Primer for Criminal Law Practitioners," New York Law Journal, October 19, 2011.
- "The Administration's Problems with RFK as the Attorney General," Federal Bar Council Quarterly, May 2011.
- "The Use of Humor as a Trial Technique," New York Law Journal, May 18, 2011.
- "The Appropriateness of Military Trials for Terrorists," White Collar Crime Reporter, June 1, 2010.
- "Military Tribunals Versus Civilian Trials During War And Peace," New York Law Journal, May 17, 2010.
- "Allow Jurors to Arrive at a Third Verdict: 'Not Proven,'" New York Law Journal, December 10, 2009.
- "How to Get a Hearing Under FRE 104 To Test The Bona Fides of the Government's Witness Cooperation Agreement," New York Law Journal, November 20, 2009.
- "Miranda Redux," White Collar Crime Reporter, July 25, 2009.
- "Interrogations and the Law: Does 'Miranda' Work?" New York Law Journal, June 10, 2009.
- "A Call to Action – The Need To Ensure Protection of New York's Privacy Law - Civil Rights Law 50 and 51," New York Law Journal, February 5, 2008.
- "Reflections: The Robert F. Kennedy I Knew," Champion, November, 2007.
- "Testimony of Government Informers and Jury Knowledge of Risks," New York Law Journal, August 11, 2006.
- "When an Attorney Forfeits the Right to Fees," New York Law Journal, May 15, 2006.
- "The Power of the Jury: Is it Diminished by Court Rulings?" New York Law Journal, March 9, 2005.
- "The Adversarial System in Criminal Cases," New York Law Journal, November 17, 2005.
- "Multidefendant Trials: Sixth Amendment Rights Get Little Protection," New York Law Journal, September 12, 2005.
- "RICO Conspiracy: The Need for Appropriate Jury Instruction," New York Law Journal, July 7, 2005.
- "Caution to the Bar: The Reach of Federal Rule of Evidence 612," New York Law Journal, July 12, 2004.
- "The Need to Assure That Justice is Done," White Collar Crime Reporter, June, 2004.
- "Government Witness Cooperation Agreements: A Defense Perspective," New York Law Journal, November, 2003.
- "The Need for Consistency When Dealing With the Right to Obtain Constitutionally Mandated Discovery" The Mouthpiece, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, October 2003.
- "Why the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York Should Adopt a Brady Rule," New York Law Journal, June, 2003.
- "Tape Recorded Evidence: A Little Known Impediment to Use of Electronic Devices To Gather Evidence, Even in a One-Party Consent State," Champion, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, April 2000.
- "Counsel Beware: It Is Not Enough to Have One-Party Consent Before Recording a Conversation," The Mouthpiece, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, January/February 2001.
- "A Little Known Hidden Problem Within the Federal Wiretap Statute," White Collar Crime Reporter, October 2000.
- "A Seldom Used But Often Effective Rule of Evidence," The Mouthpiece, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, September/October 2000
- "Nuances in Federal Law that Must Be Known by State Practitioners Trying Federal Cases," CLE Lecture August 25, 2000.
- "Humor: Does It Have a Place in the Trial of a Criminal Case," American Bar Association, July, 2000.
- "The Best Kept Secret in the Trial of a Federal Criminal Case," White Collar Crime Reporter, May 2000.
- "Brady/Giglio and the Defendant's Right to Such Material," Champion, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, August 1998.
- "Truth in Government Summations: The Need for Judicial Intervention," White Collar Crime Reporter, July/August 1998
- "The Need for Enforcement of Brady/Giglio Rights," The Mouthpiece, New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, March/April 1998.
- "Awaken Defense Bar: Your Client's Rights Are Not Protected," New York Law Journal, March 12, 1998.
- "When Will They Understand the Role of the Criminal Defense Attorney?" Champion, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, September 1997.
- "Criminal Defense Is Often a One Night Stand," National Law Journal, July 21, 1997.
- "Megatrials: The More, the Messier," White Collar Crime Reporter, November 1991.
- "Problems in the Trial of a Multiple Defendant Case," New York State Bar Association, 1989.
- "Essentials of Cross-Examination," New York State Bar Association, 1987.
- "Multiple Representation of White Collar Targets and Witnesses During the Grand Jury Investigation," Practicing Law Institute, 1985.
- "Remedies for Private Plaintiffs Under the Civil RICO Statute," Practicing Law Institute, 1984.