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James Browning Jr., lead prosecutor in Patty Hearst trial, dies at 83 James Browning Jr., lead prosecutor in Patty Hearst trial, dies at 83
(35 minutes later)
James L. Browning Jr., the lead prosecutor in the case that sent newspaper heiress Patty Hearst to jail in what was then one of the most sensational trials in U.S. history, died Jan. 12 in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley. He was 83.James L. Browning Jr., the lead prosecutor in the case that sent newspaper heiress Patty Hearst to jail in what was then one of the most sensational trials in U.S. history, died Jan. 12 in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley. He was 83.
The cause was complications from a fall, said a brother, David Browning.The cause was complications from a fall, said a brother, David Browning.
As U.S. attorney in Northern California, Mr. Browning won the case against Hearst, who was 19 when she was kidnapped in 1974 by a group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army, and then joined their cause.As U.S. attorney in Northern California, Mr. Browning won the case against Hearst, who was 19 when she was kidnapped in 1974 by a group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army, and then joined their cause.
The self-styled radicals viewed aspects of U.S. society as racist and oppressive, and were accused of killing a California school superintendent. Several members of the group died in a fire and shootout with police in Los Angeles. The self-styled radicals viewed aspects of American society as racist and oppressive, and were accused of killing a California school superintendent. Several members of the group died in a fire and shootout with police in Los Angeles.
But it was a group bank robbery that raised questions about whether Hearst was forced into crime or a willing participant. The daughter of newspaper magnate Randolph A. Hearst eventually went on trial in 1976 on bank robbery and other charges.But it was a group bank robbery that raised questions about whether Hearst was forced into crime or a willing participant. The daughter of newspaper magnate Randolph A. Hearst eventually went on trial in 1976 on bank robbery and other charges.
Mr. Browning helped secure her conviction, squaring off with noted defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey.Mr. Browning helped secure her conviction, squaring off with noted defense lawyer F. Lee Bailey.
“I’ve been up against good lawyers before,” Mr. Browning told the New York Times in 1976. “Bailey is another good one, but unless you have the facts on your side, that doesn’t mean much.”“I’ve been up against good lawyers before,” Mr. Browning told the New York Times in 1976. “Bailey is another good one, but unless you have the facts on your side, that doesn’t mean much.”
Linda Deutsch, a retired Associated Press reporter who wrote about the Hearst trial and many others, said Mr. Browning was known as a low-key, methodical prosecutor, particularly in comparison to Bailey, whose courtroom theatrics would aid in O.J. Simpson’s acquittal two decades later. Linda Deutsch, a retired Associated Press reporter who wrote about the Hearst trial and many others, said Mr. Browning was known as a low-key, methodical prosecutor, particularly in comparison to Bailey, whose courtroom theatrics would factor into O.J. Simpson’s acquittal two decades later.
Bailey had portrayed Hearst as a brainwashed victim, and Deutsch said the jury believed that until Mr. Browning presented his last piece of evidence. He played a jail cell recording of Hearst talking with a friend. She was confident, cursing and fully aware of her role with the Symbionese Liberation Army.Bailey had portrayed Hearst as a brainwashed victim, and Deutsch said the jury believed that until Mr. Browning presented his last piece of evidence. He played a jail cell recording of Hearst talking with a friend. She was confident, cursing and fully aware of her role with the Symbionese Liberation Army.
It changed the course of the trial.It changed the course of the trial.
“He was just very quiet, unassuming. So the prosecutor who seemed to be soft spoken and not a particularly impressive personality turned out to be a powerful force,” Deutsch said. “The Hearst family was stunned. Everybody was stunned.”“He was just very quiet, unassuming. So the prosecutor who seemed to be soft spoken and not a particularly impressive personality turned out to be a powerful force,” Deutsch said. “The Hearst family was stunned. Everybody was stunned.”
President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence, and Bill Clinton later granted her a pardon.President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence, and Bill Clinton later granted her a pardon.
James Louis Browning Jr. was born in Globe, Ariz., on Dec. 8, 1932. His father’s frequent job transfers with the J.C. Penney Co. led to a peripatetic childhood from Miami to Fresno, Calif.James Louis Browning Jr. was born in Globe, Ariz., on Dec. 8, 1932. His father’s frequent job transfers with the J.C. Penney Co. led to a peripatetic childhood from Miami to Fresno, Calif.
He graduated in 1954 from California State University in Fresno and in 1959 from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He also served in the Air Force in the mid-1950s.He graduated in 1954 from California State University in Fresno and in 1959 from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He also served in the Air Force in the mid-1950s.
He worked in the district attorney’s office in San Mateo County, Calif., south of San Francisco, before then-President Richard M. Nixon appointed him U.S. attorney in Northern California around 1970. A longtime Republican, he said he won the position through the help of conservative Sen. George Murphy (R-Calif.), the onetime movie star. He worked in the district attorney’s office in San Mateo County, Calif., south of San Francisco, before then-President Richard M. Nixon appointed him U.S. attorney in Northern California around 1970. A longtime Republican, he said he won the position with the help of conservative Sen. George Murphy (R-Calif.), the onetime movie star.
Mr. Browning’s office expanded as it hired new employees to prosecute Vietnam War draft resisters, welfare fraud cases and political radicals, he told the Times. Mr. Browning’s office expanded as it hired more employees to prosecute Vietnam War draft resisters, welfare fraud cases and political radicals, he told the Times.
After stepping down in 1977, he ran unsuccessfully the next year for California attorney general against a fellow Republican, then-state senator George Deukmejian, who later became California governor.After stepping down in 1977, he ran unsuccessfully the next year for California attorney general against a fellow Republican, then-state senator George Deukmejian, who later became California governor.
Mr. Browning served as a municipal court judge in San Mateo County, Calif., and in 1990 was named a superior court judge by then-Gov. Deukmejian. He retired at the end of the decade. Mr. Browning served as a municipal court judge in San Mateo County and, in 1990, was named a superior court judge by then-Gov. Deukmejian. He retired at the end of the decade.
He was married at least twice and had children, but a complete list of survivors could not be immediately confirmed.He was married at least twice and had children, but a complete list of survivors could not be immediately confirmed.
As U.S. attorney, Mr. Browning once had the responsibility for deciding whether to prosecute comic actor Groucho Marx for his remarks, printed in a Berkeley, Calif., newspaper in 1971, “The only hope this country has is Nixon’s assassination.”As U.S. attorney, Mr. Browning once had the responsibility for deciding whether to prosecute comic actor Groucho Marx for his remarks, printed in a Berkeley, Calif., newspaper in 1971, “The only hope this country has is Nixon’s assassination.”
Mr. Browning, it was later reported, considered arresting Marx for threatening the president’s life. At the time, Black Panther member David Hilliard had been prosecuted on the same grounds but was acquitted.Mr. Browning, it was later reported, considered arresting Marx for threatening the president’s life. At the time, Black Panther member David Hilliard had been prosecuted on the same grounds but was acquitted.
Marx later denied having made the comments at all, quipping, “I didn’t say that. I never tell the truth.” Marx later denied having made the comments at all, quipping: “I didn’t say that. I never tell the truth.”
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