Francis Bailey
Born 1933 · Age 92
American criminal defense attorney noted for high-profile defenses (Sam Sheppard, Boston Strangler suspect Albert DeSalvo, Patty Hearst, Ernest Medina, O. J. Simpson). Disbarred in Florida (2001) and Massachusetts (2003); later sought Maine bar admission.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Waltham, Massachusetts
Francis Lee Bailey Jr. was born to Grace (a teacher) and Francis L. Bailey Sr. (an advertising salesman).
Parents divorced
Bailey's parents divorced when he was ten, a formative personal event.
Graduated Kimball Union Academy
Completed secondary education at Kimball Union Academy.
Attended Harvard College (scholarship)
Won scholarship and enrolled at Harvard College (attended ~2 years).
Left Harvard to join U.S. Navy / Marines
Dropped out of Harvard in 1952 to join the U.S. Navy and later transferred to the Marine Corps.
Received naval aviator wings
Completed flight training and received naval aviator wings; served as a jet fighter pilot.
Served as squadron legal officer at Cherry Point
Served a collateral duty as squadron legal officer, which contributed to his legal qualifications.
Admitted to Boston University School of Law
Admitted to BU School of Law using military legal experience to meet undergraduate requirements.
Graduated Boston University School of Law (LL.B.), ranked first
Graduated with LL.B. and was ranked first in his class; noted for highest GPA in school's history at the time.
Entered private legal practice
Began practicing as a criminal defense attorney, launching his career in high-profile defense work.
Defended Albert DeSalvo (Green Man/Measuring Man assaults)
Represented Albert DeSalvo in 1964 for a series of sexual assaults; DeSalvo later confessed to being the 'Boston Strangler' but was tried only for assaults.
Won U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sam Sheppard appeal
Argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that Sam Sheppard had been denied due process; secured a retrial that led to acquittal, establishing national reputation.
Acquitted Carl Coppolino in New Jersey murder case
Successfully defended Carl A. Coppolino in the New Jersey trial over the death of Col. William Farber (December 1966 acquittal).
Host of ABC's Good Company
Hosted the short-lived celebrity-interview television series Good Company (1967).
Television special 'Paul is dead' mock trial appearance
Conducted a mock trial for an RKO TV special examining the 'Paul is dead' rumor; program aired in NYC and was never re-aired.
Published 'The Defense Never Rests' (co-author)
Co-authored The Defense Never Rests (1971), adding to his public profile and authorial output.
Defended Capt. Ernest Medina (My Lai court-martial)
Represented U.S. Army Captain Ernest Medina in 1971; Medina was acquitted at court-martial.
Became showcase publisher for Gallery magazine (briefly)
In October 1972 Bailey became the showcase publisher of the new magazine Gallery but later dropped out as publisher.
Indicted in Koscot Interplanetary case (charges later dropped)
Indicted with Glenn W. Turner and others on conspiracy/mail fraud charges related to multi-level marketing; trial ended in hung jury and charges dropped against Bailey.
Represented Patty Hearst at trial
Defended Patty Hearst in highly publicized trial for bank robberies committed during her involvement with the SLA; Hearst was convicted (Bailey prevented further death-penalty exposure via immunity deal for testimony).
Patty Hearst convicted; Bailey negotiates immunity to avoid death penalty
Hearst convicted and sentenced to seven years; Bailey negotiated use immunity in exchange for testimony about the Carmichael robbery to prevent death-penalty exposure under felony-murder rule.
Published fiction 'Secrets'
Published the novel Secrets (1978), one of several books authored.
Published 'How to Protect Yourself Against Cops in California'
Authored a book in response to his drunk-driving experience and to critique police practices.
Arrested for drunk driving (acquitted)
Arrested February 28, 1982 in California; later acquitted in a case that he said was expensive and led him to write a book criticizing police practices.
Host of syndicated show 'Lie Detector'
Hosted the short-lived syndicated television show Lie Detector, where guests were polygraphed after interviews.
Joined O. J. Simpson defense team (the 'Dream Team')
Joined Simpson's defense just before the preliminary hearing in the high-profile double-murder case; became a prominent public face of the defense.
Represented Claude DuBoc (drug-trafficking case; asset dispute)
Represented Claude DuBoc; a plea agreement required DuBoc to forfeit assets including a block of BioChem stock worth about $6 million at the time; dispute later centered on appreciation to ~$20M.
O. J. Simpson acquittal
Following the high-profile trial, the jury delivered a not-guilty verdict; Bailey's cross-examination of detective Mark Fuhrman was seen as pivotal.
Imprisoned for contempt over DuBoc stock (44 days)
Sent to federal prison for contempt after refusing to turn over a block of BioChem stock; served ~44 days at FCI Tallahassee before his brother raised funds and he surrendered the stock and was released.
Surrendered stock and yacht to federal authorities
After incarceration, surrendered the contested BioChem stock (which had appreciated to about $20M) and a yacht to resolve contempt order.
Represented William McCorkle (financial fraud trial)
Represented William McCorkle in a 1998 federal conviction in Florida related to infomercial-driven property fraud; couple initially sentenced to 24+ years; sentences reduced on appeal in 2006.
Death of spouse Patricia Shiers
His fourth wife, Patricia Shiers (married 1985), died in 1999.
Disbarred in Florida
Found guilty of seven counts of attorney misconduct by the Florida Supreme Court related to the Duboc/BioChem stock handling; disbarred in Florida.
Judge initially orders $5M taxes/penalties (later reversed)
A 2003 judge ordered Bailey to pay $5 million in taxes and penalties tied to income connected with the DuBoc case; the order was later reversed though a disputed tax bill of nearly $2M remained.
Reciprocal disbarment in Massachusetts
Massachusetts disbarred Bailey on similar grounds (handling of DuBoc assets); occurred April 11, 2003.
Filed to regain Massachusetts law license (unsuccessful)
In March 2005 Bailey filed to regain his law license in Massachusetts but failed to regain it at that time.
Moved to Yarmouth, Maine; started Bailey & Elliott consulting
Relocated to Maine and partnered with Debbie Elliott in Bailey & Elliott consulting business.
Passed Maine bar exam; Board denied license 5–4
Passed the Maine bar exam but the Board of Bar Examiners voted 5–4 to deny his application citing lack of clear-and-convincing evidence of requisite honesty/integrity.
Tax court action reduces claimed tax debt to ~$2M
Representing himself in tax proceedings, Bailey succeeded in reducing the government's claim from ~$4M to about $2M.
Two-day Maine Supreme Judicial Court hearing on bar application
A two-day hearing (March 2013) examined Bailey's suitability to practice law in Maine before Justice Donald G. Alexander.
Justice Alexander issues 57-page ruling (April 19, 2013)
Justice Alexander ruled that Bailey was 'almost fit to practice law' but cited outstanding nearly $2M tax debt; allowed reconsideration if Bailey provided a repayment plan.
Motion for reconsideration granted by Justice Alexander
After Bailey's attorney filed a motion and argued the debt-payment precedent, Justice Alexander granted reconsideration clearing the path to licensure absent further appeal.
Maine Supreme Judicial Court upholds original license denial
On April 10, 2014 the Maine Supreme Judicial Court voted 4–2 to reverse Justice Alexander's ruling and deny Bailey a law license in Maine.
Portrayed in popular culture: 'The People v. O. J. Simpson' and featured in 'O.J.: Made in America'
Nathan Lane portrayed Bailey in the 2016 miniseries; Bailey was featured heavily in the 2016 documentary O.J.: Made in America.
Operating consulting business in Maine
Reported to be living in Maine and operating Bailey & Elliott consulting business.
Moved to Georgia to be near son Scott
In approximately 2019 Bailey moved to Georgia to live near his son Scott and to receive family support in later years.
Posthumous publication: 'The Truth about the O.J. Simpson Trial' (co-author)
Book about the Simpson trial (co-authored) published in 2021 shortly before or after his death.
Died in Atlanta, Georgia
Died in hospice in Atlanta after a period of ill health; buried at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA. Epitaph: 'The defense never rests.'
Portrayed in film 'Boston Strangler' (posthumous portrayal)
Luke Kirby portrayed F. Lee Bailey in the 2023 film Boston Strangler.
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