JFK Assassination: Jim Garrison & Clay Shaw Court Documents

Description

Garrison’s JFK Conspiracy Trial: A Timeline and Cast

November 1963:

• November 22, 1963: President John F. Kennedy is assassinated.

1965:

• Prior to February 1967: The federal inquiry into President Kennedy’s death by the Warren Commission is completed.

1967:

• Early February 1967: The FBI and CIA learn that New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison has opened his own investigation into the JFK assassination.
• March 1, 1967: Jim Garrison arrests Clay L. Shaw, a prominent New Orleans businessman, in connection with an alleged conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy.
• 1967-1969 (throughout this period): Orleans Parish Grand Jury Special Investigation testimony transcripts are created, documenting proceedings led by Jim Garrison to investigate the alleged conspiracy and Clay Shaw’s involvement. Witnesses providing testimony include Dean Andrews, Perry Russo, Layton Martens, Kerry Thornley, Maria Oswald Porter, and Ruth Hyde Paine. Critics of the Warren Commission (Harold Weisberg, Mark Lane, and William Turner) also testify.

1969:

• 1969 (overall): The criminal trial State of Louisiana v. Clay Shaw takes place. This is the only trial ever held in connection with the JFK assassination.
• March 1, 1969: After a six-week trial, the jury acquits Clay Shaw after forty-five minutes of deliberation.
• After March 1, 1969 (exact date not specified but implied to be soon after the acquittal): A U.S. District judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana finds Jim Garrison to have abused his power in an attempt to prove his conspiracy theory regarding the murder of the president.

1971:

• 1971 (overall): The civil case Clay Shaw v. Jim Garrison takes place. Clay Shaw seeks injunctive relief from prosecution for perjury during his state trial. Shaw is granted injunctive relief.

1991:

• 1991: Oliver Stone’s film JFK is released, with one of Jim Garrison’s books serving as its primary source. Kevin Costner portrays Jim Garrison in the film.

2001:

• 2001: The CIA journal “Studies in Intelligence” publishes the article “The Lie That Linked CIA to the Kennedy Assassination” (Volume 45, Number 5).

Cast of Characters

• Jim Garrison (1921-1992): The District Attorney of Orleans Parish, New Orleans. He initiated the only criminal trial ever held in connection with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, charging Clay L. Shaw with conspiracy. A U.S. District judge later found him to have abused his power. One of his books was the prime source for Oliver Stone’s 1991 film JFK.
• Clay L. Shaw (1913-1974): A prominent New Orleans businessman. He was arrested by Jim Garrison on March 1, 1967, and subsequently tried in 1969 for conspiring to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. He was acquitted after a six-week trial. He later successfully sued Jim Garrison in a 1971 civil case, Clay Shaw v. Jim Garrison, seeking injunctive relief from perjury prosecution.
• President John F. Kennedy (JFK): The U.S. President whose assassination in November 1963 was the subject of the investigations and trials detailed in the sources.
• Dean Andrews: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Perry Russo: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Layton Martens: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Kerry Thornley: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Maria Oswald Porter: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Ruth Hyde Paine: A witness who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury in Jim Garrison’s investigation.
• Harold Weisberg: A critic of the Warren Commission’s conclusions who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury.
• Mark Lane: A critic of the Warren Commission’s conclusions who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury.
• William Turner: A critic of the Warren Commission’s conclusions who provided testimony to the Orleans Parish Grand Jury.
• Oliver Stone: The director of the 1991 film JFK, which used one of Jim Garrison’s books as its primary source.
• Kevin Costner: The actor who portrayed Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film JFK.