Former United States Attorney Leon Kellner (SD Florida 1985-1988) died at his home in Coral Gables on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, after battling pancreatic cancer. He was raised by Jewish parents who escaped Nazi Germany and settled in New York City.  He practiced law at Anderson Russell Kill & Olick. Kellner was an experienced trial attorney in New York when his former Harvard Law School roommate, then U.S Attorney Stanley Marcus recruited him to come to Miami and join his staff.

The Miami Herald reported that Kellner was a highly sought after litigator in New York, which is why Marcus recruited him. Kellner served as the chief of the civil division, then as executive assistant and first assistant before becoming the United States Attorney in 1985.  His office successfully indicted former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who served 17 years in federal prison. Other highlights of time as U.S Attorney included successful prosecution of the Medellin Cartel and members of the “Miami River Cops.”

“He was a first-rate U.S. Attorney,” Marcus told the Herald. Marcus went on to serve as a federal district court judge, and on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, where he remains today.

Kellner is survived by his wife, Ellen, two daughters and four grandchildren. As is our custom, NAFUSA will arrange for an American flag to be flown over Main Justice in Leon’s honor and presented to his family as a token of the esteem with which he was held by his colleagues.