Until recently, celebrated author and criminal prosecutor Linda Fairstein was best known as the writer of an award-winning series of crime novels; as the former head of sex crimes at Manhattan Districts Attorney’s Office; and as a strong supporter of social causes. As the winner of the Federal Bar Council’s Emory Buckner Award for Public Service, Glamour Magazines Woman of the Year Award, and the Nero Wolfe Award for Excellence in Crime Writing, it seemed for a long time that Fairstein could do no wrong. All that changed in 2018 when her involvement in the infamous Central Jogger Case of 1990 fell under intense public scrutiny. Fairstein is now witnessing an unprecedented public backlash that threatens to undermine her 45 years as a proponent of social justice. Keep reading to find out more about the beleaguered author.
1. She was one of only 12 women in her class
A successful career in law requires the best of educations, and fortunately for Fairstein, she has qualifications to spare. After high school, Fairstein attended Vassar College, graduating with honors in 1969 with a degree in English Literature. Intent on pursuing a career in law, Fairstein enrolled at the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1972 as one of only a dozen women in her class.
2. She was the head of Sex- Crime for 26 years
Fresh from graduation, Fairstein landed her first job at the Manhattan Districts Attorney’s Office. Her appointment to the position of Assistant District Attorney made her one of only six women in an office comprising of 200 attorneys. Fairstein’s talents and dedication clearly impressed her new bosses and within only four years, she was promoted to the head of sex crimes, a position she would hold for an impressive 26 years.
3. She’s best known as the writer of the Alex Cooper crime novels
Fairstein’s record in litigation may be impressive, but it pales in comparison to her fame as a writer. Known throughout the world as the creator of the fictional prosecutor Alexander Cooper, Fairstein has written 20 books in the hugely popular Alexandra Cooper crime series, starting with Final Jeopardy in 1996 and ending with Blood Oath in 2019. The series, which draws on Fairstein’s real-life experiences as a prosecutor, has engaged millions of readers across the globe with their tense, pacey story-lines. In addition to the Alexandra Cooper series, Fairstein has written 23 novels in the Devlin Quick series for kids along with the non-fiction work, Sexual Violence: Our War Against Rape (1993)
4. She was inspired to volunteer by her mother
Public service and civic duty are two of Fairstein’s passions, and it’s to her mother’s credit that this is the case. As a child growing up during the President Kennedy era, Fairstein’s mother instilled in her young daughter the importance of volunteer work, something she herself practiced well into her senior years. In an interview with Silive.com, Fairstein recounted how her mother would travel all the way from Mount Vernon to Harlem to volunteer long after her retirement as a registered nurse. “She made that trip until she was 86 years old,” Fairstein recalled.
5. She’s been married twice
In 1987, Fairstein married the renowned lawyer, Justin Feldman. The pair remained happily married until Feldman died at the age of 92 in 2011. 3 years later, Fairstein married former University of Virginia School of Law classmate and lifetime friend, Michael Goldberg. The couple currently live in the Upper East side of New York,
6. Her most infamous case was the “The Central Park Jogger”
In 1990, Fairstein oversaw the prosecution of five juvenile defendants in “The Central Park Jogger” case, a criminal case that centered on the rape of Trisha Meili and the assault of several others in Manhattan’s Central Park on April 19, 1989. The defendants were found guilty and sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison. In a twist, Matitas Reyes, a convicted murderer and rapist, confessed to the rape of Meili in 2002. DNA evidence corroborated his statement, and the sentences of the “Central Park Five” were vacated. The following year, the five innocent men sued New York City for malicious prosecution, racial discrimination, and emotional distress. Their case was eventually settled in 2014 for $41 million.
7. Her role in the “The Central Park Jogger” case has sparked controversy
Nearly 30 years after “The Central Park Jogger” case, Fairstein’s involvement in the prosecution of 5 innocent men is coming back to haunt her. The reason? Netflix. On May 31, 2019, the network released When They See Us, a mini-series starring Felicity Huffman as Linda Fairstein that follows the events surrounding the case. Despite there being no real evidence to support their involvement, the mini-series shows Fairstein as being immediately and utterly convinced of the boys’ guilt, and subsequently leading such a fierce interrogation that four of the five suspects ended up issuing false confessions.
8. She was awarded the Grand Master title, then lost it
In 2018, Fairstein was awarded the coveted Grand Master title by the Mystery Writers of America in recognition of her contributions to the literary genre. The backlash to the lifetime achievement award proved so fierce that just 2 days after awarding it, the association rescinded the title for the first time in their history. “After profound reflection, the Board has decided that M.W.A. cannot move forward with an award that lacks the support of such a large percentage of our members,” the group told the New York Times.
9. She’s resigned from multiple boards
Despite remaining steadfast in her defense of the original outcome of the “Central Jogger” case, Fairstein has resigned her membership of multiple boards, including the Vassar College Board of Trustees (her resignation followed an online petition from the University’s students and an internal review) and Safe Horizon, a non-profit that helps the victims of domestic abuse. “I do not want to become a lightning rod to inflict damage on this organization, because of those now attacking my record of fighting for social justice for more than 45 years,” Fairstein told the New York Post.
10. She served as a legal consultant to Harvey Weinstein
If When They See Us doesn’t prove enough to kill Fairstein’s career stone dead, news of her involvement in the Harvey Weinstein scandal just might. In 2015, Fairstein helped the producer silence one of the earliest sexual assault cases levied against him. The case involved the model Ambra Battilana, who claimed she’d been sexually assaulted by Weinstein. In 2015, Battilana’s case was dismissed by Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance Jr. on the guidance of the sex-crime team, which Fairstein just so happened to be a part of.
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