I'm very sad to say that he passed away this morning.
For those of you who never had the honor of meeting Jon, I don't know if I could find the words to adequately describe how loved and respected he was in the Criminal Justice world. He was a big guy with long white hair and a beard. Everything about his personality conveyed that he was the type of guy who didn't take any crap off anybody.
But he was a nice man. Incredibly nice. As blunt and assertive as he could be, he was also the first guy to call you up and tell you that you did a good job with something. He was the first to lend a helping hand. He'd also let you know if he just respected the way you handled something.
Having Jon Munier tell me he was proud of the way I did something is a moment that I will always remember and appreciate. His words carried a large amount of weight with me.
I've always had a large amount of respect for the person who lets his actions speak -- not just louder than, but instead of -- his words. Jon embodied that. I watched him in trial and although he showed nothing but respect for the Court, he clearly had no fear of it. He was completely himself in front of the jury and it made him an outstanding lawyer.
I had a conversation with Chris Downey last week and he told me that Jon once told him that defense attorneys were, by nature, adrenaline junkies. That made me laugh, because it seemed to explain so much about Jon. He liked to do battle.
He lived life at full-throttle and that was no more apparent than how much he was madly in love with his wife, Marie. He was crazy about her and everyone in the courthouse knew it. He had a great sense of humor and comfort in his marriage that should serve as an example to some of the rest of us who aren't quite as good at that particular institution.
Jon was larger than life and it is hard to fathom his passing.
Although there was only one, this world could use a lot more people like Jon Munier.
5 comments:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Marie. So many of us have wonderful memories of Jon and know he will be long remembered. May he rest in peace.
The Harris County Bar has lost not only a first rate trial lawyer, but more importantly it has lost a first rate person. Murray, you have accurately painted a picture of Jon, both as an attorney and the individual that he was. My condolences go out to Marie - Jon was a great guy.
Calvin A. Hartmann
Well said Murray. I am proud to say Jon & I were close friends but the sense of loss I feel now is nothing compared to what the Harris County Courthouse community lost today. RIP my friend.
David Singer
Nice tribute Murray. I first met John , as I did Mike Anderson and Jim Lindeman, when we all worked as Assistant DAs under Johnny Holmes in the 1980s. I remember Jon as the master of the wickedly funny adlib..his ability to reduce pompous people to a joke. This is the third death of a person I worked with. and a friend..a reminder of my own maybe fast approaching mortality. and to Marie..he was one of the best!
Sid Crowley
As a young police officer in the early 80s, Jon was first class in teaching us what the academy didn't; how to prepare for trial and testify in cases. He didn't make us feel stupid and regarded each one of us as a very important part of the system. He was a first class man.
Marie.. I am sorry for your loss. No words can make Jon's passing any easier but hopefully you can find comfort in knowing how we felt about your husband.
God bless the Munier family...
David Crain - HCSO / Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force
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