Robert Philibosian
Philibosian in 2012
38th District Attorney of Los Angeles County
In office
1982[1]–1984
Preceded byJohn Van de Kamp
Succeeded byIra Reiner
Personal details
Born
Robert Harry Philibosian

(1940-09-29)September 29, 1940[2]
San Diego, California, U.S.[2]
DiedNovember 13, 2023(2023-11-13) (aged 83)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNancy Walsh
Children2
Alma materSouthwestern Law School
Stanford University

Robert Harry Philibosian (September 29, 1940 – November 13, 2023) was an American politician. He was appointed Los Angeles County District Attorney in 1981 when his predecessor John Van de Kamp was elected Attorney General of California. Philibosian served as district attorney until 1984 when he was defeated in countywide election by Ira Reiner. He received his B.A. degree in history from Stanford University and his J.D. degree from Southwestern Law School, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1968.[3][4]

Philibosian is best known as the presiding District Attorney during the infamous McMartin preschool trial. One of the other prosecutors, Glenn Stevens, left the case in protest that other prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense. Stevens accused Robert Philibosian, the deputy district attorney on the case, of lying and withholding evidence from the court and defense lawyers in order to keep the Buckeys in jail and prevent access to exonerating evidence.[5] Philobosian was running a losing race to be re-elected at the time.[6] Following his political career, he was Of counsel at the law firm of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton.[7]

Philibosian died on November 13, 2023, at the age of 83.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Philibosian Prevails Over Stirling, Trott for Appointment as District Attorney". metnews.com. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
  2. ^ a b Hubbell, Martindale (December 1994). Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory - 1994, Volume 2 (North America, The Caribbean, Central America, and South America). Martindale-Hubbell. ISBN 9781561601073.
  3. ^ State Bar of California Membership Record
  4. ^ Southwestern Law School alumni profile
  5. ^ Eberle, Paul; Eberle, Shirley (1993). The Abuse of Innocence: The McMartin Preschool Trial. Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-0-87975-809-7., p. 33
  6. ^ Robert Reinhold (January 24, 1990). "The Longest Trial – A Post-Mortem. Collapse of Child-Abuse Case: So Much Agony for So Little". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Sheppard Mullin -- Attorneys
  8. ^ "Robert Philibosian, L.A. County D.A. who oversaw McMartin Preschool case, dies at 83". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 2023.
Legal offices Preceded byJohn Van de Kamp Los Angeles County District Attorney 1981–1984 Succeeded byIra Reiner
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