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Jim Garrison

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Jim Garrison
NameJim Garrison
CaptionGarrison in 1967
Birth nameEarling Carothers Garrison
Birth date20 November 1921
Birth placeDenison, Iowa, U.S.
Death date21 October 1992
Death placeNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationDistrict attorney, lawyer, judge
Known forInvestigation into the assassination of John F. Kennedy
EducationTulane University (BA, JD)
PartyDemocratic
SpouseLillian Schue (1944–1949), Anna Elizabeth "Liz" May (1951–1992)
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Army
Serviceyears1941–1945
RankFirst lieutenant
UnitUnited States Army Air Forces
BattlesWorld War II

Jim Garrison. Earling Carothers "Jim" Garrison was an American lawyer, district attorney for Orleans Parish, and later a Louisiana appellate court judge. He is best known for his controversial investigation and prosecution of Clay Shaw for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. His work, which challenged the findings of the Warren Commission, made him a polarizing figure in the history of the United States and inspired numerous books and films, including Oliver Stone's JFK.

Early life and education

Born in Denison, Iowa, he moved with his family to New Orleans as a child. After graduating from Warren Easton High School, he attended Tulane University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His studies were interrupted by service in World War II, after which he returned to Tulane University Law School to receive his Juris Doctor. During his education, he was influenced by the political culture of Louisiana and figures like Huey Long.

Military service

He enlisted in the United States Army in 1941 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. Serving as a pilot during World War II, he flew numerous missions in the European Theater of Operations. He was promoted to first lieutenant and served with distinction, earning several service medals before his honorable discharge in 1945. His military experience profoundly shaped his later assertive and confrontational style.

After passing the bar examination, he began practicing law in New Orleans. He served as an assistant district attorney for Orleans Parish before being elected District attorney himself in 1961. His early tenure was marked by a vigorous, often theatrical, campaign against organized crime and vice in the French Quarter, targeting figures associated with Carlos Marcello's criminal network. He also briefly served as a judge on the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit.

Kennedy assassination investigation

In late 1966, he opened a new investigation into the assassination of John F. Kennedy, publicly rejecting the lone-gunman conclusion of the Warren Commission. His probe focused on a alleged conspiracy centered in New Orleans, involving CIA operatives, anti-Castro Cuban exiles, and members of the mafia. In 1969, he brought Clay Shaw, a prominent local businessman, to trial for allegedly conspiring to assassinate the president with Lee Harvey Oswald and David Ferrie. The trial, held in Criminal District Court, ended with Shaw's swift acquittal by the jury. The investigation was widely criticized by figures like J. Edgar Hoover and the Department of Justice, but it fueled persistent public skepticism and inspired later congressional probes like the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations.

Later career and legacy

After the Clay Shaw trial, he was twice re-elected as District attorney but faced declining political influence. He authored several books, including A Heritage of Stone and On the Trail of the Assassins, which detailed his theories. His legacy is deeply divisive; critics view his investigation as a witch-hunt built on perjury and coerced testimony, while supporters credit him for exposing flaws in the official narrative. His life and work were dramatized in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK, where he was portrayed by Kevin Costner, reigniting national debate on the assassination.

Personal life

He was married twice, first to Lillian Schue and then to Anna Elizabeth "Liz" May, with whom he had five children. Known for his charismatic and combative personality, he was an avid reader with interests in history and philosophy. He remained a resident of New Orleans until his death from cancer in 1992. His papers are held at the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Category:American lawyers Category:District attorneys in Louisiana Category:People from New Orleans Category:1921 births Category:1992 deaths