John Edwards, who began his career as a trial lawyer before getting into politics, is returning to his roots. The disgraced politician is teaming with an old law school classmate, David Kirby, with whom he launched his first firm to launch his second, Edwards Kirby, the New York Times’ DealBook reports this morning.
Joining the two men at the plaintiffs’ firm will be Edwards’ eldest daughter, Cate, who was a constant presence at her father’s side during his 2012 trial on charges that he illegally used campaign funds in a failed attempt to protect the identity of his mistress, Rielle Hunter. A North Carolina jury ultimately either acquitted or declared a mistrial on all of those charges, a decision that allowed Edwards to keep his law license. (His desire to practice law was believed to have been one major reason why he resisted a plea deal that would have spared him the embaressing ordeal of having details of his adultery aired in the courtroom and, subsequently, on the nightly news.)
“The reason we formed this firm is because we all believe in the same thing — in standing up for the disenfranchised and those who need an equal chance,” Edwards, who focused on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases before entering politics, told DealBook. “That’s why we exist.” More over at the Times.
