Former O.C. prosecutor James Enright dies after long battle with cancer

Retired lawyer James Enright was a heavy hitter.

As a prosecutor, Enright rose to the top of the homicide division at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

In private practice, Enright defended some of the most infamous killers the county has ever known, guys with monikers like “Bedroom Basher.”

He engaged the law from both sides. And both benefited, say those who knew him.

Enright died Sunday night after a lengthy battle with cancer, said his son, also James Enright. He was 91.

Arrangements are pending.

“Jim Enright was a highly respected prosecutor,” said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “I was very saddened to hear of his passing. He was a mentor to me and to so many others here in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and he exuded all of the qualities a true leader shares with others: He was kind, caring, respectful and had excellent judgment. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”

Enright worked as a prosecutor for 30 years, 24 of them as the chief deputy district attorney in charge of homicide cases.

He spent 18 years in private practice, taking the county’s hardest cases.

Enright defended Gerald Parker, who confessed to the serial sex slayings of five young women, and Gunner Lindberg, who stabbed a man to death in a racial killing.

Enright also represented Noel Jesse Plata as he was sentenced to death for torturing and killing Linda Park, 18, during a home invasion robbery at her Irvine home.

Enright, in a 2008 interview, said working defense was difficult because of the emotions surrounding the case.

“I felt prosecution came easier for me, because usually we have the evidence and the emotion on our side. It was more natural as a prosecutor, where you get to wear the white hat and get justice for victims,” Enright said. “The toughest part about being a defense attorney is that you are arguing against a wave of emotional evidence from the prosecution side. No case can be more of an example of that than Plata … the emotional wallop from the other side in that case was absolutely overwhelming.”

Enright of Orange is survived by sister Marilyn Timberger; daughter Jeanmarie Enright; son James Enright; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Former Register staff writer Larry Welborn contributed to this story.