Renowned Broward Lawyer Richard Rosenbaum Dies After Cancer Battle

Rosenbaum, known for his fierce opposition to the death penalty, fought cancer for 26 years before passing away at age 67.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Richard Rosenbaum, a renowned defense lawyer in Broward County, Florida, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 67 after a 26-year battle with cancer. Rosenbaum was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000 and fought it for six years before the cancer returned and spread 10 years ago. Despite his health struggles, Rosenbaum continued to take on high-profile cases, including representing Lionel Tate, the youngest American ever sentenced to life in prison, as well as major league baseball player Jose Canseco and serial killer Danny Rolling.

Why it matters

Rosenbaum was known for his fierce opposition to the death penalty and his unwavering commitment to defending even the most challenging cases. His passing leaves a significant void in the legal community, as colleagues described him as 'one of the most brilliant lawyers in the profession' with 'honesty, integrity and professionalism' that were 'unmatched'.

The details

In the final months of his life, Rosenbaum's son, Ryan, was tasked with finding other attorneys who could argue as passionately as his father did against the death penalty, but was told 'Your dad is a unicorn. We can't replace him.' Rosenbaum was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000 and fought it for six years before the cancer returned and spread 10 years ago. Despite his health struggles, he continued to take on high-profile cases, including representing Lionel Tate, the youngest American ever sentenced to life in prison, as well as major league baseball player Jose Canseco and serial killer Danny Rolling.

  • Rosenbaum was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000.
  • Rosenbaum fought the kidney cancer for six years.
  • 10 years ago, the cancer returned and had spread.

The players

Richard Rosenbaum

A renowned defense lawyer in Broward County, Florida, known for his fierce opposition to the death penalty and his unwavering commitment to defending even the most challenging cases.

Ryan Rosenbaum

The son of Richard Rosenbaum, who was tasked with finding other attorneys to take on his father's cases after his passing.

Bruce Raticoff

A friend and colleague of Richard Rosenbaum, who described him as 'one of the most brilliant lawyers in the profession' with 'honesty, integrity and professionalism' that were 'unmatched'.

Lionel Tate

A client of Richard Rosenbaum, who was the youngest American ever sentenced to life in prison and was later released after Rosenbaum argued his appellate case.

Jose Canseco

A major league baseball player who was a client of Richard Rosenbaum.

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What they’re saying

“Your dad is a unicorn. We can't replace him.”

— Ryan Rosenbaum, Son of Richard Rosenbaum

“His honesty and integrity and professionalism were unmatched. He was one of the most brilliant lawyers in the profession.”

— Bruce Raticoff, Friend and colleague of Richard Rosenbaum

The takeaway

The passing of Richard Rosenbaum, a renowned defense lawyer known for his fierce opposition to the death penalty and his unwavering commitment to defending even the most challenging cases, leaves a significant void in the legal community. His colleagues described him as 'one of the most brilliant lawyers in the profession' with 'honesty, integrity and professionalism' that were 'unmatched', highlighting the difficulty in finding attorneys who can match his level of dedication and skill.