Case Insights:
- From Powerhouse to Pariah: Legendary defense attorney David Kenner faces potential disbarment following a criminal contempt conviction.
- Breach of Trust: Prosecutors revealed Kenner gave protected discovery to unauthorized individuals in violation of a protective order.
- Ties to High-Profile Clients: What could Kenner’s misconduct mean for Suge Knight, Tory Lanez, and the security of protected witnesses and confidential information?
By Samuel Lopez – USA Herald
Los Angeles, CA – Once celebrated for defending rap moguls like Marion “Suge” Knight, veteran attorney David Elliot Kenner now stands on the precipice of professional ruin.
The LA Times wrote an article about Kenner in 1996 called “Lawyer for Rap Mogul Known for Aggressive Work” written by Henry Weinstein.
He was a man who once held the fate of superstars in his hands, but today is fighting for his very right to practice law.
Kenner’s license to practice law in California—active since January 5, 1968—is at risk after a criminal conviction for contempt of court under 18 U.S.C. § 401(3). His violation? Disclosing confidential discovery materials in a federal case to individuals explicitly barred from access—an act prosecutors described as “willful, intentional, and reckless”.
In United States v. Prakazrel Michel, the government charged Kenner with criminal contempt, alleging he “willfully, intentionally, and recklessly” violated a May 14, 2019 protective order. According to court records:
“Kenner shared and caused to be shared covered discovery material with persons to whom he was not permitted to provide the material under the terms of the order.”
The discovery material included grand jury documents and sensitive information meant only for defense counsel, and other authorized individuals.
Over a period spanning from December 14, 2022, to March 3, 2023, these unauthorized individuals accessed confidential documents and grand jury minutes about his Grammy-winning client, Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, one of a trio who founded the 1990s hip-hop band The Fugees.
Kenner ultimately pleaded guilty. On January 26, 2024, he was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one year of unsupervised probation and a $5,000 fine.
The plea was a stunning twist in a complex espionage case involving the former rapper.
Kenner’s history of State Bar violations includes an incident on March 22, 2002, when a conviction record was transmitted under State Bar court case No. 02-C-10990. Another violation occurred on April 17, 2003, resulting in disciplinary measures that included probation without an actual suspension. His most recent disciplinary action took place on June 27, 2024.
