Larry Kazan
Specialty: Crimal Defense
Law School/Year Graduated: Gonzaga Law, 1977
Years in Practice: 45
As someone who’s handled a lot of DUI cases, what is the single best piece of lawyerly advice you can give someone who’s been pulled over?
My first piece of advice is to avoid putting yourself in that position in the first place. But if you do find yourself pulled over, remember that less is more. Too many people think they can talk their way out of it. Big mistake! Exercise your constitutional rights: You don’t have to answer questions or perform field sobriety tests, as these can provide evidence against you. However, always be polite.
Have you had any surprising celebrity clients? Were they different in person than their public persona?
Of the celebrity clients I’ve represented, Glen Campbell stands out. He was just as entertaining in person as he was on stage – the man had a million one-liners. I felt the media portrayed him poorly when he got into trouble. When we made court appearances, the street in front of the courthouse was lined with his fans, standing three deep and holding signs saying, “We love you, Glen!” It must have been uplifting for him to see so much support in difficult times.
Has there been a recent high-profile criminal case that particularly intrigued you?
The current criminal conspiracy case in Atlanta involving [rapper Jeffery “Young Thug” Williams] and his record label YSL certainly caught my attention. What’s particularly troubling is how the prosecutor is using Young Thug’s song lyrics as evidence, arguing they reflect gang activities against all the co-defendants… [which] raises serious First Amendment concerns, infringing on the right to free speech as applied.
Do you ever take capital cases?
I have handled several capital cases over the years. Luckily, none of my clients have received the ultimate punishment. These are difficult cases, and as you might imagine, everything’s on the line.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy playing golf with my pals [at] Whisper Rock Golf Club and Arizona Country Club. I also like to hike with my dog, Goldie. During the summer, I love escaping to my cottage on East Gull Lake just outside of Brainerd, Minnesota.
