FILE – Prominent Miami defense attorney Roy Black, shown here speaking at an event, has died at age 80. He was known for representing Jeffrey Epstein, William Kennedy Smith, and other high-profile clients.
Roy Black, the legendary Miami defense attorney whose client list ranged from Jeffrey Epstein to Justin Bieber, has died. He was 80.
Black’s death was confirmed Tuesday by his longtime law partner Howard Srebnick, who called him a teacher, mentor, and friend. Over a career that spanned decades, Black earned national recognition for high-stakes courtroom wins and controversial cases that often landed on front pages and cable news screens.
Ties to the Epstein case
The backstory:
Black was part of the legal team that represented Jeffrey Epstein during his original 2008 sex crimes case in Florida. He helped negotiate a now-infamous non-prosecution agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges by pleading to lesser state offenses.
Even after Epstein was arrested again in 2019, Black fought to uphold that earlier deal—working to block efforts by victims to reopen the case.
He worked alongside Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr, placing him at the center of one of the most controversial criminal defense efforts in recent memory.
A courtroom career full of headlines
Big picture view:
Black first gained national fame for winning an acquittal in the 1991 William Kennedy Smith rape trial, a case that aired live on national TV and involved a member of the Kennedy family.
He went on to represent:
- Justin Bieber, in a 2014 DUI case involving a Lamborghini
- Rush Limbaugh, over prescription drug allegations
- Helio Castroneves, the Indy 500 champion acquitted in a tax evasion case
- Amid Khoury, a defendant in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal
- William Lozano, a Miami police officer acquitted in a racially charged fatal shooting that sparked riots in 1989
In the legal world, Black was seen as a courtroom titan. Defense attorney David O. Markus called him “the Michael Jordan of criminal defense,” saying he “outlawyered every prosecutor he ever went up against.”
What we know:
Black was a prolific legal commentator and author, regularly appearing on national media to explain complex cases. He also mentored generations of younger lawyers and wrote widely on criminal defense strategy.
He met his wife, Lea Black, during the Kennedy Smith trial, where she served as a juror. She later became known for her role on The Real Housewives of Miami. The couple had a son, RJ. Black also had a daughter, Nora.
What we don’t know:
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made public. It is unknown whether a public memorial or legal tribute will follow.
The Source: This article is based on public statements from Roy Black’s law partners, reporting from the Associated Press, and historical coverage of his high-profile legal cases. Additional information was drawn from court records and archival media reports spanning his decades-long career.
