Tara Kawass
Defense attorney for Katherine Magbanua in the Garcia-Magbanua 2019 trial and the Magbanua 2022 retrial, and named in testimony during the Donna Adelson 2025 trial.
About
Kawass's work spans both Magbanua prosecutions and records how the defense addressed Luis Rivera's cooperation, the Dolce Vita recording, Magbanua's financial evidence, co-conspirator hearsay, and the State's intermediary theory. Comparing the two trials shows both continuity in those subjects and a changed retrial theory about how Charlie Adelson allegedly reached Garcia. The later reference to a cooperation offer through Kawass documents a separate investigative contact without giving her an active role in Donna Adelson's trial.
Trial Record (24)
GM Garcia–Magbanua Sep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019
Trial Summary
Lead counsel for Katherine Magbanua across the joint eleven-day trial, appearing in openings, evidentiary argument, cross-examination of the State's central cooperating witness, the direct examination of Magbanua herself, and both judgment-of-acquittal motions.
Appearances (7)
KM Magbanua Retrial May 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022
Trial Summary
Served as defense co-counsel for Katherine Magbanua alongside Christopher DeCoste, delivering the defense opening statement and closing argument, examining the defendant on direct and redirect, cross-examining State witnesses, and preserving discovery, hearsay, and cross-examination-scope objections across all eight trial days.
Appearances (15)
Mentioned (1)
DA Donna Adelson Aug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025
Trial Summary
Named during Craig Isom's testimony as Katherine Magbanua's attorney at the time of Magbanua's arrest, through whom Isom attempted to relay a cooperation offer that did not result in cooperation.