Jody Weiner (b. Jody Carl Weiner) is an American novelist, non-fiction author, film producer and lawyer. Weiner wrote the literary suspense novel ''Prisoners of Truth'' (2004). The novel draws in part from his experiences defending high-profile criminal cases in Chicago. Along with Jane Goodall, Mark Bekoff, Dave Soldier and other animal activists, he co-authored ''Kinship With Animals'' (2006), an anthology of true interspecies encounters. In the book, he writes about serving as attorney to Koko the Gorilla. Weiner also co-edited ''Resistance: A Radical Political and Social History of the Lower East Side'' by Clayton Patterson (2007), and co-managed publication of

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-a Memoir by Gianni Menichetti (2007). Weiner was also advisor and legal counsel for the documentary ''A Conversation with Koko'' (1999), which received a

Genesis Award The Genesis Awards are awarded annually by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to individuals in the major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works which raise public awareness of animal issues. Presented by the HSUS ...

for Best PBS Documentary in 2000. Weiner was also a consulting producer and wrote additional dialogue for Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (animated feature film, The Weinstein Company 2011). Weiner also co-authored ''Peoplescapes, My Story From Purging To Painting'' an illustrated Memoir by Nancy Calef with Jody Weiner (2014 Babu Books). He was also advisor to the feature film ''Loveless in Los Angeles'' (2006) and writer/director of the animated music video ''Lost My Mind Again'' (2004), and producer of ''Perfect Two'', a music video by Ceej (Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil soundtrack, 2011). Weiner was born and raised in Chicago, where he spent eleven years defending criminal cases in state and federal courts. In 1985, he moved to San Francisco. There he began to write books and practice civil law securing million-dollar verdicts. Weiner's clients have ranged from MRI machine inventor

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to an Ohio death row inmate, from NBA All-Star Norm Van Lier to SKYY vodka inventor

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. He has also advised the Artist's Guild of San Francisco and the Gorilla Foundation, and he is a former Director of the Golda Foundation. Weiner is a director of the Litquake Foundation, producer of the annual San Francisco Litquake Festival. Weiner was a 2013 recipient of The Acker Award for achievement in the Avant Garde.Jan Herman, “For Nonconforming Artists, the Envelope Please,” ''ArtsJournal'', June 2, 2013.
/ref> He holds a B.A. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a J.D. from DePaul University. Weiner is a member of the California and the Illinois State Bar, Federal District Courts for the Northern Districts of California and Illinois, and the Court of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Federal Circuits. Weiner is married to contemporary American figurative painter Nancy Calef.

Works published

* ''Prisoners of Truth'' (2004, softcover 2006, Council Oak Books) () and () * ''Kinship With Animals'' (2006, Council Oak Books) () (co-author, introduction by William Shatner) * ''Resistance: A Radical Political and Social History of the Lower East Side'' by Clayton Patterson. (2007, Seven Stories Press) () (co-editor)
“Hot Koko,” ''California Lawyer,'' July 2005. p. 80.
*''Peoplescapes, My Story From Purging To Painting'' an illustrated Memoir by Nancy Calef with Jody Weiner (2014 Babu Books).

References

External links

Making the Divisadero World Better
by Leah Garchik in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', June 22, 2011 Litquake Lit Cast Episode 9:
The Dirty Side of Democracy
podcast at San Francisco's Tosca Cafe, October 7, 2012, hosted by author Jody Weiner, Litquake web site
Peoplescapes with Artist Nancy Calef and Jody Weiner
The Beat Museum web site
STYLE Counsel: Advice on How to Dress from writer and attorney Jody Weiner
by Sylvia Rubin in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', December 4, 1997
Nancy Calef Writes of Recovering from a Mom’s Madness
by Edward Guthmann in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', May 20, 2014
These Mean Streets: Reality and Fiction collide
event at San Francisco's Tosca Café on October 16, 2011, hosted by author-lawyer Jody Weiner mentioned in "Black Panther and Red Carpet are a Go" by Leah Garchik in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', October 14, 2011
Writing and Fighting: Creative Couples Collaborating
Litquake event moderated by Jody Weiner and Nancy Calef mentioned in "Kansas City's contribution to this City by the Bay" by Leah Garchik in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', October 23, 2014
Jody Weiner, author of Prisoners of Truth and attorney
is summoned and excused from jury duty: Leah Garchik column in the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', October 7, 2004
Book website

Author website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weiner, Jody Living people University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni DePaul University College of Law alumni American film producers American male writers Year of birth missing (living people)