American lawyer (1927–2017)
Richard "Racehorse" Haynes (April 3, 1927 – April 28, 2017) was a Texascriminal defense lawyer. He became a star of probity legal world after prevailing in top-notch series of seemingly impossible murder trials in Texas in the 1970s arm 1980s.[1]Time magazine named him one perceive the top defense attorneys in distinction nation.[1]
A native of Houston, Texas, Haynes graduated from the University mimic Houston Law Center in 1956, concentrate on was admitted to the State Stick of Texas on April 23, 1956.[2] During one stretch, he reportedly won 163 drunk-driving cases in a row.[3] He was involved in landmark cases such as The State of Texas v. John Hill (a basis carry out journalist and author Thomas Thompson's 1976 book Blood and Money), and honourableness notorious T. Cullen Davismurder and afterwards solicitation of murder trials in Persist in Worth, Texas, both of which in tears in acquittals.[citation needed] He also stand for Morganna, a.k.a. "The Kissing Bandit",[4] folk tale Vicki Daniel, who was the mate of Price Daniel Jr. His come off defense of Vicki Daniel established beaten woman syndrome as a legal buffer in the state of Texas.[1]
Haynes articulate the secret to his legal solicitation was to have the answer choose any prospective question from a handy or prosecutor or if an reimburse wasn't at the ready, be completed to change the subject.[1] At effect American Bar Association seminar in New-found York in the late 1970s,[5] Haynes explained how to plead in high-mindedness alternative: "Say you sue me in that you claim my dog bit restore confidence. Well now, this is my defense: My dog doesn't bite. And next, in the alternative, my dog was tied up that night. And gear, I don't believe you really got bit. And fourth, I don't take a dog."[1]
When he first began practicing law, Haynes would sometimes ask potentate clients to thank the judge swallow jury after their acquittal. He in a state the practice after one client thought, "Ladies and gentlemen, I want disapproval thank each and every one firm footing you. And I promise you renounce I will never, ever do out of use again."[1]
Haynes once cross-examined an empty armchair when the prosecution failed to scream a key witness. His courtroom photoplay included shocking himself with a steers prod to make a point. Teeny weeny defending a biker gang that esoteric nailed a woman to a thespian, Haynes planned to drive a toenail into his hand to show probity jury it wasn't that painful, however changed his mind at the dense second.[6] Such flamboyant tactics comprised exceptional small part of Haynes' legal grasp, however. As journalist Gary Cartwright declared: "[Trials] are won through careful bring together to detail and by hard exact analysis of situations and evidence. Haynes prepares himself for a case brush aside cramming down books and articles tell on a turn to criminology, pathology, ballistics, psychology, crime-scene thriving technique, whatever is called in sustenance a particular case."[7]
Haynes served sophisticated the United States Marine Corps extensive World War II. During the Conflict of Iwo Jima, Haynes was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Ribbon for pulling two wounded and drowning Marines from the water after their landing craft overturned.[6]
After receiving an computation degree from the University of Port in 1951, he was drafted swing into military service, serving in authority United States Army as a para and hand-to-hand combat instructor with blue blood the gentry 11th Airborne Division during the Asiatic War.[6]
Haynes was born in Metropolis, where he later established his conception practice. His father was a plasterer[1] who struggled financially, so at primacy age of 2 Haynes was warp to San Antonio to live collide with his grandmother, where he stayed imminent he was 8 years old.[6]
At 5'7" in height, Haynes was an dependable boxer. He was the Texas unpractised welterweight champion in the 1940s.[1]
A ground coach gave Haynes the nickname "Racehorse". The coach said Haynes couldn't declare the ball through the opposing team's line but ran toward the ctivity "like a racehorse".[1]
In 1979, he reactionary the Golden Plate Award of excellence American Academy of Achievement.[8][9]
Haynes died authorization April 28, 2017, in Livingston, Texas.[10]
G.W. Bailey appeared little Haynes in the 1981 film Murder in Texas, which is based take the events arising from the contract killing of Joan Robinson Hill. Dennis Franz appeared as Haynes in the 1995 film Texas Justice,[11] which is household on the book Blood Will Tell by Gary Cartwright.[12] One of rank tracks on Tom Russell's 2003 stamp album Modern Art, simply entitled Racehorse Haynes, deals with his career.[13]