{{Short description|American attorney}} {{Infobox person | name = Barry I. Slotnick | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|6|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Bronx, New York, U.S. | alma_mater = City College of New York <br /> New York University Law School | occupation = Attorney | net worth = | spouse = Donna Slotnick | children = 4, including Stuart Slotnick }}

'''Barry I. Slotnick''' (born 18 June 1939)<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/16/nyregion/a-tenacious-slotnick-faces-biggest-test.html A TENACIOUS SLOTNICK FACES BIGGEST TEST]</ref> is a New York City-based defense attorney. Slotnick is well known for defending infamous Mafia crime boss, John Gotti<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/25/nyregion/gotti-trial-opening-statements-today.html?searchResultPosition=4 Gotti Opening Statements Today]</ref> and New York City subway shooter, Bernhard Goetz.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/15/nyregion/goetz-hires-new-lawyers-may-testify-to-grand-jury.html?searchResultPosition=6 GOETZ HIRES NEW LAWYERS; MAY TESTIFY TO GRAND JURY]</ref> Along with his son Stuart, he negotiated First Lady Melania Trump's pre-nuptial agreement with Donald Trump. In 2021, he was the subject of a ''New York Times'' best seller, ''The Defense Lawyer'', written by author James Patterson, chronicling Slotnick's life.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/01/09/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ NY Times Best Sellers]</ref><ref>[https://dujour.com/life/the-defense-lawyer-barry-slotnick/ The Winning Hand Of Attorney Barry Slotnick]</ref>

==Early life== Slotnick was born in The Bronx in 1939 to Orthodox Jewish Russian immigrants.<ref name=newyorkmagazine>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xegCAAAAMBAJ&dq=joseph+colombo+slotnick&pg=PA30 Slotnick’s Law] ''New York Magazine'' via Google Books. January 2, 1989.</ref> He graduated with a B.A. from City College of the City University of New York, a J.D. from New York University Law School, and was admitted to the bar at age 21.<ref>Mustain, Gene; Capeci, Jerry (2002) ''Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti''. Penguin Books. {{ISBN|0028644166}}</ref> After graduating from law school, Slotnick established his own practice in Manhattan.<ref name=ruhling>Ruhling, Nancy A. [http://nancyruhling.com/portfolio/slotnick/ Barry Slotnick Courtly] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714152805/http://nancyruhling.com/portfolio/slotnick/ |date=July 14, 2011 }} ''Lifestyles Magazine''. Spring 2006.</ref> Slotnick specialized in criminal defense, and found clients by sitting in the front row of a court, waiting until the judges would say "Slotnick, the next client is yours."<ref name=ruhling/> From there, he started his own "boutique law firm" that eventually became Slotnick, Shapiro & Crocker.

==Bernhard Goetz trial== In 1985, Slotnick defended Bernhard Goetz, who shot four young black men on a New York City subway.<ref>Fletcher, George [https://books.google.com/books?id=NZ_oSPxVDcgC&dq=slotnick%27s+law&pg=PA134 A crime of self-defense: Bernhard Goetz and the law on trial] Chicago, The University of Chicago Press: 1988.</ref> Goetz was charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment and several firearms offenses. Goetz maintained that he acted in self defense. The trial received national attention. A Manhattan jury found Goetz not guilty of all charges, except an illegal firearms possession count, for which he served two-thirds of a one-year sentence.<ref name="NYT_1987-06-17">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/17/nyregion/goets-cleared-subway-attack-gun-count-upheld-acquittal-won-shooting-4-youths.html | title=Goetz Is Cleared in Subway Attack; Gun Count Upheld; Acquittal Won in Shooting of 4 Youths - Prison Term Possible on Weapon Charge | last=Johnson | first=Kirk | date=June 17, 1987 | newspaper=The New York Times | accessdate= 2009-06-02 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Fletcher |first=George P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZ_oSPxVDcgC&dq=slotnick's+law&pg=PA134 |title=A Crime of Self-Defense: Bernhard Goetz and the Law on Trial |date=1990-06-15 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-25334-3 |language=en}}</ref>

The jury decision was based primarily on bullet wounds and shooting witnesses.<ref name="British American Pub">{{Cite book |last1=Lesly |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lW5yQgAACAAJ |title=Subway Gunman: A Juror's Account of the Bernhard Goetz Trial |last2=Shuttleworth |first2=Charles |date=1988 |publisher=British American Pub. |isbn=978-0-945167-08-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurtz |first=Howard |date=1988-11-03 |title=WHAT A TRIAL! |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/11/03/what-a-trial/04d05d9c-b1db-483b-a46e-ac4c20f6cb58/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' attributed the victory to Slotnick's "clever courtroom tactics," stating that he "turned out to be a shrewder, more accomplished performer than the prosecutor, Gregory Waples."<ref name=nytimes>Anderson, David C. [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/14/books/why-goetz-got-off.html?pagewanted=all Why Goetz Got Off] ''New York Times''. August 14, 1988</ref> In particular Slotnick's aggressive questioning of James Ramseur, one of the four shot by Goetz, caused Ramseur to react explosively, which resulted in Ramseur's entire testimony being stricken from the record including negative statements Ramseur made about Goetz.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105044628/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1324957.html Youth’s Testimony Stricken in Goetz Trial] ''The Washington Post''. May 29, 1987.</ref><ref>Evans, Colin [https://books.google.com/books?id=DUd5oeHET-kC&dq=slotnick%27s+law&pg=PA69 Trials and the Courts] New York, Infobase Publishing: 2010.</ref> This outburst, along with Ramseur's rape conviction and admission of staging his kidnapping by Goetz's agents, greatly influenced the jury.<ref name=hoax>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/27/nyregion/a-man-goetz-shot-is-charged-with-faking-own-abduction.html |title=A Man Goetz Shot Is Charged With Faking Own Abduction |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 27, 1985 |last=Raab |first=Selwyn}}</ref><ref name="British American Pub"/>

When later talking about the case, Slotnick said "I've had greater victories and I've had much more difficult cases to try, but for the public perception, for the public need, Goetz was important. Goetz was my public service case."<ref>"Slotnick: The Great Defender" ''Herald''. September 2, 1987.</ref>

==Career== Originally an appellate attorney, Slotnick eventually began doing high-profile criminal cases that garnered national media attention. In his early 30s, Slotnick defended Mafia boss Joe Colombo in front of the United States Supreme Court and won.<ref name=newyorkmagazine/> Ultimately, the New York Court of Appeals declared New York's contempt statute unconstitutional.<ref name=ruhling/> He would later be a lead counsel in the first John Gotti trial, which resulted in an acquittal for Gotti and his associates.<ref name=people>Gross, Ken [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20096202,00.html Subway Shooter Bernhard Goetz Is the Latest Defendant to Hire the Hottest Legal Gun in Town - Barry Slotnick] ''People Magazine''. May 4, 1987.</ref><ref>Raab, Selwyn [https://books.google.com/books?id=5nAt6N8iQnYC&dq=Barry+slotnick&pg=PA592 Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful] New York, St. Martin's Press: 2005.</ref>

Slotnick has also represented former Democratic Congressman Mario Biaggi, as well as Vyacheslav Kirillovich Ivankov, who was accused by the United States Department of Justice of being a major boss of the Russian mafia.<ref name= "NYT_1997-01-30">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/30/nyregion/9-year-jail-term-for-russian-named-by-us-as-a-mobster.html | title=9-Year Jail Term for Russian Named by U.S. as a Mobster | last=Fried | first=Joseph | date= January 30, 1997 | newspaper= The New York Times | accessdate= 2009-06-02 }}</ref><ref>Nicaso, Antonio and Lee Lamothe [https://books.google.com/books?id=as5L_t3C3rUC&dq=Barry+slotnick&pg=PT166 Angels, Mobsters and Narco-Terrorists: The Rising Menace of Global Criminal]</ref><ref>Friedman, Robert I. [https://books.google.com/books?id=F1IqGCc7P8cC&dq=Barry+slotnick&pg=PT96 Red Mafiya: how the Russian mob has invaded America] New York, Warner Books, Inc.: 2000.</ref> He then represented casino magnate Steve Wynn, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, and Rabbi Meir Kahane.<ref name=newyorkmagazine/><ref name=danspaper>Cooper, Victoria [http://www.danshamptons.com/content/danspapers/issue10_2008/13.html Who’s Here: Barry Slotnick]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Dan’s Paper''. May 30, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.malman.com/Myles-H-Malman-in-the-News/U-S-Attorney-In-Miami-Steps-Aside-In-Noriega-Case-3-Prosecutors-Named.shtml U.S. Attorney In Miami Steps Aside In Noriega Case; 3 Prosecutors Named] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512022303/http://www.malman.com/Myles-H-Malman-in-the-News/U-S-Attorney-In-Miami-Steps-Aside-In-Noriega-Case-3-Prosecutors-Named.shtml |date=May 12, 2010 }} ''The Wall Street Journal''. January 15, 1990.</ref><ref>Kempe, Frederick [https://books.google.com/books?id=OQg__T-knb4C&dq=Barry+slotnick&pg=PA268 Divorcing the dictator: America's bungled affair with Noriega] London, G.T. Putnam's Sons: 1990.</ref> He also handled the divorce proceedings on behalf of actor Anthony Quinn and of June Gumbel—wife of television personality Bryant Gumbel.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080409070710/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,617258,00.html Bryant’s Bitter Split] ''People Magazine''. November 6, 1998.</ref> Slotnick also represented Tim Richmond during his attempted comeback in 1988, when NASCAR suspended Richmond for testing positive for banned substances.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=nascarman History |date=February 10, 2020 |title=The Daytona 500 That Changed Everything: Speedweeks 1988 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktNiJuHrmos?t=1156 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/ktNiJuHrmos |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|access-date=May 24, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2004, Slotnick worked with his son Stuart to defend retired Army Captain Jay Ferriola pro-bono. Ferriola had been ordered to redeploy to Iraq after completing eight years of service, and then sued the Army on the grounds that they violated his due process rights.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2004-11/2004-11-05-voa84.cfm?moddate=2004-11-05 Former Army Captain Wins Case to Avoid Tour of Duty in Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826164030/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2004-11/2004-11-05-voa84.cfm?moddate=2004-11-05 |date=2009-08-26 }} ''Voice of America News''. November 5, 2004.</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6511124 'Deborah Norville Tonight' for Nov. 16] ''MSNBC''. November 17, 2004.</ref> The Department of Defense later allowed Ferriola to retire from the Army. The case was the first to challenge the Army's stop-loss policy, which had affected tens of thousands of soldiers since the start of the Iraq War.<ref>[http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=who_you_gonna_call Who You Gonna Call?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110225542/http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=who_you_gonna_call |date=2007-11-10 }} ''The American Prospect''. March 18, 2007.</ref> Slotnick then successfully tried four similar cases.<ref>[http://www.davnj.org/News/ArmyUsingPolicytoDenyReserveOfficerResignations.pdf Army Using Policy to Deny Reserve Officer Resignations]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Washington Post''. May 11, 2006.</ref>

With his son, Stuart, Slotnick also obtained a settlement for publicly traded company Sportingbet with the U.S. Government's Department of Justice for $30 million and a non-prosecution agreement.<ref name=gambling911>[http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/jenny-woo-speaks-sportingbet-settlement-legal-counsel-stuart-slotnick-092410.html Jenny Woo Speaks Sportingbet Settlement with Legal Counsel Stuart Slotnick] ''911 Gambling''. September 24, 2010.</ref> This amount was a quarter of what competing site PartyGaming paid in a similar lawsuit.<ref>[http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/sportingbet-settles-nearly-one-quarter-partygaming-forfeiture-deal-092010.html Sportingbet Settles For Nearly One Quarter of PartyGaming Forfeiture Deal] ''911 Gaming''. September 20, 2010.</ref> Pursuant to the non prosecution agreement, Sportingbet will not be indicted for their criminal acts in the United States.<ref name=gambling911/>

During 2005, he merged Slotnick Shapiro & Crocker with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, with which he is currently a partner and shareholder.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-profile-litigator-barry-slotnick-joins-buchanan-ingersoll-firm-adds-boutique-of-white-collar--complex-commercial-litigators-54005897.html High Profile Litigator Barry Slotnick Joins Buchanan Ingersoll: Firm Adds Boutique of White-Collar & Complex Commercial Litigators] ''PR Newswire''. February 8, 2005.</ref>

Slotnick has been a member of the New York Governor's Judicial Selection Committee, Chairman of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Capital Crimes, and a former Special Deputy Attorney General.

==Personal life== Slotnick is married to Donna Slotnick and has four children, one of whom is attorney Stuart Slotnick, best known for defending the company American Apparel.<ref name= "NYT_2009-05-18">{{cite news | url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/american-apparel-settles-lawsuit-with-woody-allen/ | title=American Apparel Settles Lawsuit With Woody Allen | last=Itzkoff | first=Dave | date= May 18, 2009 | newspaper= The New York Times | accessdate= 2009-06-02 }}</ref>

He once had a 12-year winning streak, and has said that his favorite client was Winnie the Pooh, whom he represents adverse to Disneyland.<ref name=danspaper/> He received the American Lawyer's AMMY Award as the best defense lawyer in America, was named to the New York Super Lawyer List during 2006, 2007, and 2009, and was included in the American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers of 2009.<ref>[http://www.bipc.com/professionals.php?PeopleID=472 Profile: Barry Slotnick] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120191022/http://bipc.com/professionals.php?PeopleID=472 |date=2010-11-20 }} on ''BIPC.com''.</ref>

==In popular culture== Slotnick and his defense of Bernhard Goetz in the 1984 New York City Subway shooting was mentioned in the song Rising to the Top by rappers Sean Price and Agallah.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101120191022/http://bipc.com/professionals.php?PeopleID=472 Barry Slotnick Profile] on ''BIPC.com''. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311054903/http://www.nyulawglobal.org/events/VSSBarrySlotnickBio.htm Vanderbilt Speaker Series Fall 2005] Barry Slotnick Bio. *[https://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=G5TRvnvv2czNh6XpyHhGhLgmrxmQWJZrfLbYnCWc4gGbtytrQhjv!1991272858?a=o&d=5000558553 Trial may turn tables on Russian mob boss] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060816131900/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04%2F10%2F25%2F1416253 Army Captain Granted Reprieve After Suing U.S. Gvt. To Block Iraq Deployment] Democracy Now interview of Barry Slotnick.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Slotnick, Barry I.}} Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:City College of New York alumni Category:American criminal defense lawyers Category:New York (state) lawyers Category:New York University School of Law alumni Category:People associated with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney