The Unbroken Bond: Is Leslie Abramson Still In Contact With The Menendez Brothers?

The legacy of the Menendez murder trials continues to captivate the public, but the question of the relationship between the brothers and their firebrand defense attorney, Leslie Abramson, remains one of the most compelling mysteries. As of December 2025, the professional relationship between Leslie Abramson and Erik Menendez has definitively ended, primarily due to her retirement and the brothers' ongoing legal efforts with a new team. While Abramson’s decades-long legal license is now inactive, her emotional investment in the case—and her belief in the brothers’ claims of self-defense against years of alleged parental abuse—suggests a personal bond that may transcend the courtroom.

The latest updates surrounding Lyle and Erik Menendez focus on a high-stakes push for resentencing, a legal battle that Leslie Abramson is not actively involved in, confirming the transition of their legal representation. However, the legendary criminal defense attorney recently broke her silence to comment on the case's renewed public interest, proving that the Menendez case remains a deeply personal and professional touchstone for her, even in retirement. This article dives into Abramson’s current status, the nature of her past relationship with Erik, and the new legal chapter for the Menendez brothers.

Leslie Abramson: A Biography of the Menendez Brothers' Fiercest Defender

Leslie Hope Abramson is one of the most recognizable and formidable figures in American legal history, known for her aggressive, passionate, and often controversial courtroom style. Her career is intrinsically linked to the defense of Erik Menendez.

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• Full Name: Leslie Hope Abramson
• Born: October 6, 1943
• Birthplace: Flushing, Queens, New York City
• Age (as of December 2025): 82 years old
• Education: Attended Pembroke College (now part of Brown University) and received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
• Career Highlights: High-profile criminal defense attorney for over four decades. Best known for representing Erik Menendez in the trials for the 1989 murders of his parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Other notable cases include the defense of Phil Spector and the high-profile case of Dr. Harold Fredrick Shipman.
• Menendez Trial Role: She represented Erik Menendez, arguing that the murders were acts of self-defense rooted in years of alleged physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by their parents.
• Current Status: Retired. Her legal license is currently listed as inactive by the State Bar of California.
• Family: She has two children—a daughter from her first marriage and a son she adopted while working on the Menendez case.

The Professional End: Why Leslie Abramson Is No Longer Their Attorney

The short answer to the question of contact is that, professionally, Leslie Abramson is no longer involved in the Menendez brothers' legal affairs. This shift is the result of several key factors that mark the end of her active career.

Retirement and Inactive Status

Abramson has long since retired from her decades-long practice. Her legal license is listed as inactive with the State Bar of California, making it impossible for her to represent clients in court, including Lyle and Erik Menendez. Since the conclusion of the second trial, which ended in life sentences without the possibility of parole, Abramson has significantly withdrawn from the public eye.

The Menendez Brothers' New Legal Team

The Menendez brothers are currently engaged in a major legal effort to have their sentences reduced, arguing for resentencing based on new evidence and evolving laws regarding childhood trauma and abuse. This effort is being spearheaded by a new, active legal team, which has recently filed motions, including a petition to disqualify the Los Angeles District Attorney from participating in their resentencing hearings. The focus on a habeas petition and the push for a new trial or resentencing confirms that the brothers’ defense is now in the hands of new counsel, not Leslie Abramson.

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A Deeply Personal and Public Bond

Despite the professional separation, the bond between Abramson and Erik Menendez was famously intense and personal. She publicly and fiercely maintained her belief in the brothers' innocence, stating that she represented people charged with murder for 27 years and that the Menendez brothers’ case was unique. She argued that the prosecution's narrative ignored the years of alleged abuse that drove the brothers to their actions. Her book, The Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Law, further details her emotional and professional investment in the case, suggesting a connection that is likely more personal than professional at this stage.

Leslie Abramson's Recent Comments and The Resentencing Fight

While direct, verifiable information on personal contact between a retired attorney and an incarcerated former client is rare, a recent public appearance by Abramson confirms her continued awareness and strong feelings about the case.

Breaking Silence on the Netflix Series

In a rare public sighting, Leslie Abramson was tracked down by cameras and asked about the renewed interest in the case, specifically the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Her response was short, fiery, and entirely characteristic of her personality, reportedly calling the show "a piece of sh*t." This comment, made in late 2024, shows that even years into her retirement and with her legal license inactive, the case is far from forgotten and still elicits a strong emotional reaction from her.

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The New Legal Landscape: A May 2025 Hearing

The current legal focus for Lyle and Erik Menendez is on a resentencing hearing, with a significant court date scheduled for May 2025. The Los Angeles County Superior Court is reviewing the case following a recommendation by the Los Angeles District Attorney to consider resentencing. This development is based on the evolving understanding of how childhood trauma and abuse, which Abramson argued so vehemently, can impact sentencing. The brothers' current legal team is utilizing this new legal environment to challenge their original sentences of life without parole.

The new legal efforts are a direct continuation of the core defense strategy Abramson pioneered: the argument of self-defense rooted in abuse. Although she is not present in the courtroom, her original defense work provides the foundation for the current habeas petition and the push for a new outcome.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Menendez Defense

Leslie Abramson is not the current attorney for Lyle and Erik Menendez, and all professional contact has ceased due to her retirement and inactive legal status. While the question of personal contact remains unconfirmed and private, her decades-long, passionate defense and recent public comments about the case’s portrayal demonstrate an enduring, personal connection to the Menendez brothers and their story. The torch of their legal battle has been passed to a new legal team, but the foundation of their defense—the narrative of abuse—was built by Leslie Abramson, whose legacy continues to shape the public and legal conversation surrounding one of America's most infamous murder cases.

The brothers' fight for resentencing, fueled by new legal avenues, is the next chapter in a story that began with Abramson's fierce advocacy. Whether or not she speaks to them personally, her influence on their case is indelible, ensuring that her name will forever be linked to Lyle and Erik Menendez.