Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a renowned attorney and resolute defender of the environment who has relentlessly ­ and successfully ­ prosecuted governments and companies for polluting the nation's waterways. He serves as President of the Waterkeeper Alliance and Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He is also a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at the Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law in New York. He is an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration's environmental policies and its consistent abuse of scientific research for political gain. In 1999, he was recognized as one of TIME magazine's "Heroes for the Planet".

 

More than eco-warrior, Kennedy is also a social-defender. During the summer of 2001 he sat in a Puerto Rican prison on trespassing charges as his most recent son, Aidan Caohman Vieques Kennedy, was born. Sentenced to 30 days for his civil disobedience, Kennedy was in Vieques protesting the U.S. Naval bombing exercises that take place there every year.

 

Mr. Kennedy serves as chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, all while serving as t he President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at the Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law in New York. Earlier in his career he served as assistant district attorney in New York City. He has worked on several political campaigns including Edward M. Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign, and Al Gore’s in 2000. He has worked on environmental issues across the Americas and has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. He is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City’s water supply. The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He helped lead the fight to turn back the anti-environmental legislation during the 104th Congress.

 

Mr. Kennedy has published two books: Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr., A Biography and The Riverkeepers, co-written with Hudson Riverkeeper John Cronin. His current project, Crimes Against Nature, is expected in bookstores in Fall 2004. Crimes Against Nature details the poor environmental record of the current Bush administration as compared to Republican and Democratic administrations of the past.

 

His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, The Village Voice, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Pace Environmental Law Review, and other publications.

 

Mr. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Following graduation he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a master’s degree in environmental law.

 

He is a licensed master falconer, and as often as possible he pursues a life-long enthusiasm for white-water paddling. He has organized and led several expeditions in Latin America, including first descents on three little-known rivers in Peru, Columbia, and Venezuela.

Mike Papantonio organized the mass tort department at Levin, Papantonio   25 years ago when the firm undertook the battle against the asbestos industry.

 

John Morgan founded Morgan & Morgan in 1988. Today, Morgan & Morgan has over 10,000 active files in Orlando and over 6,000 active files in Tampa.

 

Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. (1937-2005), was not only America's most recognized lawyer, he was a seasoned litigator and leader in the legal profession.

 

Mark Proctor is President of Levin, Papantonio. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Florida in 1972, and his law degree from the University of Florida in 1975.

 

John Romano is past President of the Florida Justice Association, the Southeast Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Civil Justice Foundation, Gold Coast Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Palm Beach Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Melvin M. Belli Society.

 

Todd Romano is a partner with the law firm of Romano Law Group in West Palm Beach, Florida. He concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and business and commercial litigation..