Mark Geragos is a prominent American criminal defense attorney known for representing high-profile clients across various industries. Born on October 5, 1957, in Los Angeles, California, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1982. He is the managing partner of the law firm Geragos & Geragos, based in Los Angeles.
Throughout his career, Geragos has represented numerous notable figures, including:
- Winona Ryder: Defended the actress in a 2002 shoplifting case, resulting in probation and counseling instead of jail time.
- Michael Jackson: Served as co-counsel in the early stages of Jackson’s 2004 molestation trial before being replaced due to workload concerns.
- Jussie Smollett: Represented the actor during the 2019 alleged false police report incident; charges were later dropped.
In recent years, Geragos has taken on the cases of the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, who were convicted in 1994 for the 1989 murders of their parents. He has advocated for their resentencing, citing new evidence and claims of past abuse.
However, in March 2025, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman denied the motion for resentencing, stating the brothers had not taken responsibility for their actions. Geragos criticized this decision, accusing Hochman of misrepresenting facts and “serially abusing” the family with falsehoods.
Additionally, Geragos has been involved in the “Reality Reckoning” campaign, which accuses NBCUniversal of exploiting reality TV stars. He and fellow attorney Bryan Freedman have faced allegations of attempting to pressure “Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval into implicating the company. Sandoval claimed that the lawyers offered to drop a lawsuit against him if he cooperated, an accusation Geragos and Freedman have denied.
Despite these controversies, Geragos remains a significant figure in the legal world, known for his advocacy on behalf of high-profile clients and his involvement in complex legal battles.