Foreman, Percy

Foreman, Percy

(1902–88) lawyer; born in Cold Springs, Texas. Son of a Texas sheriff, he quit school at age 15, then put himself through the University of Texas Law School and went on to become one of America's best known trial lawyers. Notorious for high fees and courtroom theatrics, he was often ridiculed for his clothing and disorganization, but he was a respected master of tactics. He lost only 53 of 1,500 death-penalty cases. His most famous client was James Earl Ray, killer of Martin Luther King Jr.