News Release

Past President E.E. (Bo) Edwards passes

Statement of Barry C. Scheck, President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers  

Washington, DC (December 14, 2004) – It saddens me to inform our members and the public that NACDL Immediate Past President E.E. (Bo) Edwards passed away this morning at Vanderbilt Medical Center in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He was 61 years old.

Bo will be remembered fondly for his good humor and intellect, in and outside the courtroom, and baritone voice that at once conveyed his authority and his compassion. We will also never forget the years he dedicated to civil forfeiture reform, defending the rights of innocent owners in the courtroom and on Capitol Hill. Bo’s chief legacies – NACDL’s Forfeiture Abuse Task Force, which he helped create, and the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 – have helped to take the profit motive out of law enforcement,” as he used to say, ensuring that innocent citizens will no longer be deprived of their property without due process of law.

He was a gentle man and great support to his clients and colleagues in their times of greatest need. The rare bravery with which he met his illness, particularly during his leadership of our association as president and president-elect, inspires us. He will be missed by all. 

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The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.

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