William Moses Kunstler attracted endless controversy during his five decades as a defense attorney. From the 1950s through the 1990s, the flamboyant, radical Kunstler captured headlines as often as his famous clients. He built his reputation winning civil rights cases, and later he became linked to the anti-war and Native American-rights movements. His tactics blurred the line between lawyer and political activist, with Kunstler equally at ease jousting verbally with judges, manning barricades at protests, or striding into the midst of the deadliest prison riot in U.S. history. For his outspoken behavior during a historic free speech trial in 1968, he was given an unprecedented four year sentence for contempt of court. The author of twelve books, including The Case for Courage (1962) and My Life as a Radical Lawyer (1994), Kunstler spent his last years representing highly unpopular clients, from alleged mob bosses to mass murderers.

Born on July...