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Joe H. Tonahill (1914–2001) was an American lawyer.

Biography

Tonahill was born in Hughes Springs, Texas. He was a graduate of the University of Texas and George Washington University. He married Violett Smith, daughter of Howard W. Smith in 1941. Howard W. Smith, a congressman, was his father-in-law.

During his career, he worked on Jack Ruby and Melvin Belli's cases. He was the co-founder of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. He was also a wrestler.

Posthumously, he was inducted to the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in 2018. Joe Tonahill Award is named after him.

References

1. Archives, L. A. Times (November 9, 2001). "J. Tonahill, 88; Lawyer Helped Represent Jack Ruby". Los Angeles Times.
2. "obituaries". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
3. ^ STEWART, RICHARD (November 7, 2001). "Deaths: Tonahill, 'gifted' East Texas lawyer". Chron.
4. ^ "Joe H. Tonahill". Spartacus Educational.
5. ^ "Joe Tonahill | Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame".
6. "RUBY DISCLAIMS KNOWING OSWALD; Tells of Trip to Cuba—Drops Request for Bond". January 22, 1964 – via NYTimes.com.
7. https://www.justice.org/membership/awards

Further reading

• Temple-Raston, Dina (2003). A Death in Texas: A Story of Race, Murder and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemption

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• 20th-century American lawyers
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• People from Hughes Springs, Texas
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