JOSHUA C. NEEDLE

Rotary Speaker January 11, 2002

            Born July 14, 1952 ‑‑ Los Angeles, California

Attended Los Angeles Public Schools ‑‑ University High School

Current residence in Santa Monica, California

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

1974 ‑ Bachelor of Arts, Cal State College, Sonoma ‑‑ Degree from the "Robert Maynard Hutchins School of Liberal Studies," an innovative interdisciplinary program now nationally recognized for its excellence. Degree awarded with "Honors and Distinction."

LEGAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1977 ‑ Juris Doctor, Loyola University School of Law, Los Angeles. Dean's Honor List.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Solo practice began in December 1977 and has focused on criminal defense work in the State and Federal Courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Most cases and clients, with some exceptions, have been neither indigent nor infamous; trials have ranged from "Riding a Bicycle Under the Influence" to "Special Circumstances Murder," i.e., the entire gamut of a general criminal practice. Notable appellate cases include U.S. vs Simpson I (9th Cir. 1987) 813 F.2d 1462; U.S. vs. Simpson II (9th Cir. 1991) 927 F.2d 1088; U.S. vs. Eccles (9th Cir. 1988) 850 F.2d 1357; these related cases explored issues of "Outrageous Government Conduct" in violation of Due Process standards and the parameters of a Federal Court's "Supervisory Powers." 

Josh has also handled a select variety of civil trials and appeals including Shel2herd v. Greene (1988) 185 CA3d 989, enforcing MICRA fee limitations for the benefit of victims of medical malpractice against their former lawyers, and Stannard v. City of Long Beach. No. SOC 088459 (1993), which resulted, post‑trial, in a tax‑free recovery to his client in an effective amount in excess of $1,000,000.00 for police misconduct. 

Josh was also a full‑time consultant and on‑air commentator regarding the O.J. Simpson trial for the nationally syndicated television program Hard Copy.

FROM LAWYER TO ENTREPRENEUR ‑ THE IMPOLITIC YEARS

On August 1, 1999, Josh opened IMPOLITIC: CARTOON COMMENTARIES, the first GALLERY OF OPINIONATED ART in the nation. Located at 2665 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA. 90405, Impolitic is a retail art gallery featuring original and limited edition cartoon art by the finest cartoonists in the country, the graphic commentators who have been entertaining along with educating the American public for decades. 

The featured artist is Paul Conrad, the three‑time Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist, and approximately 20 other Pulitzer winners are represented, including Rollin Kirby, Jules Feiffer, Ben Sargent, Mike Luckovich and Joel Pett. 

In addition to editorial cartoonists, Impolitic carries the original drawings of New Yorker cartoonists and original cartoon strips like Baby Blues, Momma, and classics like Pogo. 

Josh is currently Chair of the Main Street Merchants Association.

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