Famed Criminal Attorney Roy Black Dies at 80
One of the most well-known names in criminal defense law, Roy Black, has passed away at the age of 80. His death was confirmed earlier this week by his longtime legal partner, Howard Srebnick, who remembered him as not just a colleague, but a teacher and a dear friend.
Roy Black wasn’t just any attorney—he was a courtroom giant, known for defending some of the most high-profile and controversial clients in modern American legal history. Most famously, he was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s original defense team back in 2008. That case, as many may remember, ended with a now-infamous non-prosecution deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges by pleading guilty to lesser state crimes. Even when Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Black continued to defend that earlier agreement in court, trying to prevent it from being overturned. He worked on that case alongside other legal heavyweights like Alan Dershowitz and the late Kenneth Starr, placing him right in the center of a firestorm of public scrutiny and legal debate.
But Epstein wasn’t his only headline-making client. Roy Black first came into national focus in 1991, when he successfully defended William Kennedy Smith in a high-profile rape trial. That case was televised across the country and marked the beginning of Black’s reputation as a media-savvy and incredibly persuasive trial lawyer.
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Over the years, his client list read like a who’s who of controversy and celebrity. He defended pop star Justin Bieber in a 2014 DUI case involving a Lamborghini, stood by Rush Limbaugh during prescription drug allegations, and helped Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves beat a tax evasion case. He also represented figures involved in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, as well as Miami police officer William Lozano, whose 1989 acquittal in a racially charged shooting led to major civil unrest.
Many in the legal community considered Black the best of the best. Defense attorney David O. Markus once described him as “the Michael Jordan of criminal defense,” saying he consistently outperformed prosecutors with skill and sharp strategy.
Aside from the courtroom, Roy Black was also a prominent legal commentator, educator, and author. He frequently appeared on national news to break down legal issues and mentored countless young attorneys along the way.
Interestingly, he met his wife, Lea Black, during the Kennedy Smith trial—she was serving on the jury at the time. Lea later gained her own fame on The Real Housewives of Miami . Together, they had a son named RJ, and Roy also had a daughter, Nora.
At this time, funeral arrangements haven’t been made public. Whether a formal memorial will follow is still unknown. But what’s clear is that Roy Black left a powerful legacy in the world of criminal defense—one marked by brilliance, controversy, and undeniable impact.
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