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Longtime criminal defense attorney remembered

SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter

Published: September 13, 2019

Known for his stalwart research and preparation skills, Akron criminal defense attorney Edwin C. Pierce never left any stone unturned when getting ready for trial.

“Ed was extremely organized and detail-oriented,” said Charles Grisi, an attorney at Grisi & Budde. “After reading a criminal case, Ed would summarize the information and index it on three-by-five cards.

“His system was so accurate and reliable that when other lawyers in the office had to write a brief, the first place they would go for information was that indexing system,” said Grisi. “In fact, Pierce’s system was more accurate than the Criminal Law Reporter.”

Criminal defense attorney Rhonda Kotnik said she never met anyone as passionate about practicing as Ed Pierce. The two once shared office space and served as co-counsel on several cases over the years.

“Ed loved being a lawyer,” said Kotnik. “He looked forward to putting on a suit and tie every day and coming downtown and representing his clients. He gave every client the same attention, whether the person was facing a murder charge or a traffic ticket.”

Kotnik said Pierce enjoyed his work so much that he continued to practice even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“Ed never retired even when his body was failing him,” she said.

On July 31, Pierce passed away from complications of Parkinson’s and heart disease at the age of 82.

“He was an amazing dad,” said Laura Pierce, one of his three daughters. “My dad would be home for dinner almost every single night. After dinner he would take us to the library or to get ice cream or candy. In grade school and middle school, he coached our basketball teams. After a hard day at work, he would race to the gym to coach our teams.

“As we grew older, he was there to support us,” said Laura. “He was a very patient and caring father. He never raised his voice at us once.”

About six weeks before Pierce’s death, solo practitioner Don Hicks ran into Pierce at the Summit County Law Library. He said Pierce was busy researching a case.

“II knew Ed Pierce well,” said Hicks. “Ed and I first met through our church when we were young lawyers.

“Ed and I were friends,” said Hicks. “Ed was one of the brightest legal minds around.

“He was devoted to his profession and the very best at what he did. We had occasional co-defendants together. He had Parkinson’s disease for many years, but he never retired. He loved the law and his clients.

“He touched many people’s lives, especially the lives of his family,” Hicks said. “He loved his wife, children and grandchildren.”

Born in Akron on Sept. 14, 1937, Pierce was one of two children.

Pierce graduated from Buchtel High School and received his bachelor’s degree in forestry from Iowa State University.

“Ed was a big bird watcher,” said Hicks. “It was an important part of his life. He would go into the woods to spot different species and record what he found.”

Pierce obtained his juris doctorate from The University of Akron School of Law in 1964.

He began his legal career as an assistant prosecutor in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, later starting his own criminal defense practice.

Grisi first met Ed Pierce in 1970 while also serving as an assistant county prosecutor in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office.

After leaving the prosecutor’s office the two shared office space for about ten years.

“I remember that Ed had a fantastic sense of humor,” Grisi said. “There was not a day that went by where he wouldn’t spin some event that occurred, causing everyone to laugh out loud at least once a day.

“His abilities as a trial lawyer were so exceptional that when lawyers or judges got into trouble they would call Pierce,” said Grisi. “Ed was not at all egotistical and would cut anyone down who he felt had an excessive ego that interfered with giving his client a fair shake.

“Ed was truly a lawyer’s lawyer,” said Grisi. “He was one of my early mentors. His personal ethics were a standard that all lawyers should live by. I am proud to emulate the professional standards that were engrained in me by Ed Pierce.”

Pierce mentored many other attorneys over the years, including criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Whitney.

“Ed was extremely intelligent and a very good trial lawyer,” said Whitney. “He was a meticulous researcher and had a great memory. He had a tremendous amount of trial experience because he worked in the prosecutor’s office for years.

“He taught me how to organize files and research the issues,” said Whitney. “I used to watch him try cases and he possessed great cross-examination techniques. I have tried to incorporate those techniques into my own cases.”

Frederic L. Zuch, former chief criminal prosecutor for the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, described Pierce as a “respectful and awesome trial adversary” and a “gentleman” in court.

“As a prosecutor for 25 years, I had many trials opposite Ed,” said Zuch. “Ed was an excellent and very successful criminal defense attorney. He had an effective and quiet trial presence that utilized his extensive preparation.

“His high acquittal rate was the result of his very skillful understanding of the jury process,” said Zuch. “During the course of a trial, unlike many lawyers, Ed had the expertise to ask the right question at the right time.

“If I got myself into trouble I would have seriously considered hiring Ed.”

Pierce’s daughter Laura said her father loved Cape Cod.

“When he was single and younger he hiked up the Cape,” Laura said. “He met some people, including a guy who owned cottages. Every year we would go on vacation for two weeks in Cape Cod and rent one of those cottages, which was right on the dunes of the Cape.

“My father was a role model for me,” said Laura. “He never told me what to do or solved my problems for me. He modeled the behavior and how to handle the situation, allowing me to learn on my own. A lot of what he modeled is built into my moral backbone today.”

Laura said since her father did not have a son, she wanted his grandson, River, to have his last name. “It was a tribute to my father and fortunately River’s father was OK with it.”

On Aug. 4 a memorial service for Pierce was held at Newcomer Funeral Home in Akron.

Pierce is survived by his wife Cheryl, daughters Sarah Bell, Jessica Barlow and Laura Pierce, grandchildren Ava and Elijah Barlow and River Pierce and many nieces and nephews.

His sister Susannah Pierce preceded him in death.


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