Manny Medrano

ABC News Correspondent

Manuel Medrano is a correspondent for ABC News based in Washington, DC. He covers the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for all ABC News broadcasts.

Mr. Medrano came to ABC News in 2004 from KNBC in Los Angeles, where he was a general assignment reporter, focusing on legal issues for NBC4's "Channel 4 News." There he provided legal analysis and commentary for the station's comprehensive coverage of the trials of O.J. Simpson, the Menendez Brothers, Reginald Denny and Rodney King, among others. In 1995 his coverage of the Simpson case earned him an Emmy Award and Golden Mike Award.

Prior to joining KNBC, Mr. Medrano was a trial lawyer at the law firm of Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal in Los Angeles, where he specialized in complex civil and white collar criminal litigation. He also served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office, where he successfully prosecuted the 1985 kidnapping and murder case of DEA agent Enrique Camarena. Mr. Medrano never lost a jury trial. In 1992 he received the U.S. Department of Justice Award for his performance on the Camarena case.

Since 1988 Mr. Medrano has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, the University of Southern California Law School, Pepperdine University School of Law and Southwestern University School of Law. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.

Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Medrano is actively involved in numerous charitable organizations. A native of California, he resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife and two children.

As the Supreme Court/Legal Affairs Correspondent for ABC News, Manuel Medrano has covered some of the most important national news stories of the past decade. With a front row seat to news events, Manuel has unique insight into stories that have changed the fabric and landscape of our society.

An embodiment of the American success story, Manuel's personal journey has taken him from a gang-infested barrio to the pinnacle of journalism as an Emmy-award winning network correspondent. Prior to becoming a broadcast journalist, Manuel was a federal criminal prosecutor who never lost a jury trial. He braved death threats to successfully prosecute the drug cartel leaders that kidnapped, tortured and murdered DEA federal drug agent Enrique Camarena. Manuel is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his trial lawyer achievements.

Manuel is a masterful speaker who engages and captivates audiences with his compelling presentations:

Trials of the Century: What They Didn't Tell You A successful trial attorney and news correspondent, Manuel provides a behind-the-scenes look at current and controversial legal issues. From high profile cases involving celebrities, to headline-grabbing political cases, Manuel cuts through the legal jargon and focuses on the people and players behind the headlines. Audiences will learn for the first time of the intense legal wrangling and astonishing personal struggles that took place during some of the most notorious cases of our time.

Supreme Directions: The Future of the High Court As a member of the prestigious U.S. Supreme Court press corps, Manuel discusses the inner-workings of the highest court in the land. Manuel's fast-paced presentation examines landmark, controversial decisions that have forever changed our daily lives. He offers his unique insights into the inner-workings of the Court and discusses the fascinating political backdrop to the intricate "chess game" unfolding daily as potential Supreme Court nominees are thrown into the arena.

"But You Don't Fit the Profile...": Succeeding When Everyone Says You Can't Do you feel that others (and sometimes even you) underestimate your true potential? Manuel's most personal keynote is a powerful presentation that resonates with audiences because it touches on the themes of personal obstacles and the irrepressible human spirit. Born to immigrant parents, Manuel pulled himself out of a crime-ridden barrio to go on to graduate with honors from Harvard College and then Harvard Law School, culminating in two immensely successful careers. With humor and unflinching passion, Manuel challenges people to conquer fear and self-doubt, and embark on their own journey of self-discovery and empowerment as a means to reach their personal and professional goals.