Arnold & Porter Honors Legacy of Abe Krash, Launches Fellowship Program With Legal Counsel for the Elderly

Arnold & Porter honored the legacy of retired partner Abe Krash at a memorial service in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office on January 8, 2025. Krash, who passed away on July 6, 2024, was a longtime leader at the firm and a dedicated advocate for the legal profession and the rule of law. He played a pivotal role in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision of Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the constitutional right to counsel in criminal cases. The Gideon decision inspired several significant reforms in the representation of defendants who could not afford counsel and is central to the firm’s longstanding pro bono commitment.

The memorial service honored Krash’s distinguished legal career, which spanned seven decades. He joined Arnold, Fortas & Porter as an associate in 1953 and retired from the partnership in 1998, after leading the firm’s Antitrust practice group. The New York Times’ obituary honoring Krash’s legacy noted that he served as a valuable mentor to generations of younger lawyers at Arnold & Porter, including Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. Krash also served as a visiting professor of constitutional law for 25 years at both Yale Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. Throughout his career, Krash authored articles on constitutional law, criminal law, antitrust, trade regulation, and federal civil procedure. He was also President of the Friends of the Law Library of Congress. In 2013, Krash received The American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognized his unwavering dedication to the law and his notable contributions to the legal profession.

The service was followed by a reception. Donations were made in Krash’s memory to the National Legal Aid & Defender Association and Martha’s Table.

To honor Krash’s legacy, the firm announced that it will be partnering with Legal Counsel for the Elderly to sponsor an annual fellowship program for a current law school student, funded by the Arnold & Porter Foundation. The program will focus on right to counsel in housing matters. Legal Counsel for the Elderly champions the dignity and rights of Washington, D.C. elders by providing free legal and social work services to those in need.

Read Krash’s full obituary and view the recording of his oral history interview.

Read The New York Times obituary, “Abe Krash, Who Fought for a Constitutional Right to Counsel, Dies at 97” (subscription required).