Jim Garrison American lawyer, New Orleans District Attorney Date of Birth: 20.11.1921 Country: USA

1. Biography of Jim Garrison
2. Early Life and Career
3. Career as District Attorney
4. Investigation into JFK Assassination
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Jim Garrison

Jim Garrison was an American lawyer and the district attorney of New Orleans. He gained fame for his investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Garrison put forth a theory that differed from the official lone gunman version, and took the case to trial, but the defendant was acquitted by the jury. The evidence and conclusions presented by Garrison remain controversial and subject to debate.

Early Life and Career

Jim Garrison was born in Denison, Iowa, and later moved with his family to New Orleans. During World War II, he served in the National Guard and fought in France and Germany. After the war, he attended Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, graduating in 1949. Garrison served in the FBI in Seattle for two years before returning to the National Guard. From 1954 to 1958, he worked at the law firm Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles. In 1958, Garrison joined the public sector as an assistant district attorney. He also changed his name to "Jim" during this time. In 1961, he ran for the position of district attorney and won the Democratic primary against the incumbent Richard Dowling, subsequently winning the general election.

Career as District Attorney

As district attorney, Jim Garrison waged a campaign against prostitution and illegal activities in the entertainment industry. He became known for conducting regular raids in the French Quarter, a historic district with many bars, restaurants, and hotels. Additionally, Garrison gained notoriety for his accusations of corruption and bribery against various officials, including judges, police officers, and state legislators. However, he was unable to secure any convictions. In 1965, he was re-elected as district attorney.

Investigation into JFK Assassination

In 1966, Jim Garrison launched an investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Several witnesses testified to the existence of a conspiracy involving former private detective and civil aviation pilot David Ferrie and businessman Clay Shaw, who were allegedly planning the president's murder and had connections to Lee Harvey Oswald. Ferrie died before the trial, officially due to natural causes, although rumors circulated about possible suicide or murder. Only Shaw faced charges, as Garrison believed the assassination was orchestrated by a group that included right-wing activists, CIA-trained Cuban exiles, and former and current CIA operatives. Garrison rejected the conclusions of the Warren Commission, arguing that Oswald was not the lone gunman and that evidence against him had been falsified. Based largely on the testimony of Perry Russo, the main witness, Garrison pursued a trial against Shaw. However, Shaw was acquitted by a jury.

Later Years and Legacy

Following the trial, Jim Garrison faced a media campaign accusing him of baseless persecution. Nevertheless, in 1969, he unexpectedly won re-election with 53% of the vote and retained his position as district attorney. Garrison attempted to bring perjury charges against Shaw until a federal judge ordered him to "cease and desist" the prosecution, citing his financial interest in continuing the investigation, possibly referring to the publicity surrounding his recently published book. In 1971, Garrison was accused of accepting bribes from owners of illegal pinball gambling machines. He defended himself by claiming that he was being retaliated against for his investigation into the Kennedy assassination and alleged involvement of intelligence agencies. Garrison was acquitted, but in 1973, he lost his bid for re-election as district attorney. In 1978, he became a judge on the Court of Appeals for the district and served in that position until his death. Garrison wrote three books about his investigation after the Shaw trial: "A Heritage of Stone" (1970), "The Star Spangled Contract" (a political detective story with parallels to Kennedy's assassination), and the biographical "On the Trail of the Assassins" (1988). "On the Trail of the Assassins" became a bestseller and, along with Jim Marrs' book "Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy," formed the basis for Oliver Stone's film "JFK." In the film, Kevin Costner portrayed Garrison, while Garrison himself made a cameo appearance as Chief Justice Earl Warren of the United States Supreme Court.