Erle Gardner was an American lawyer and writer. He was best known for his work in criminal law, particularly in the area of criminal defense. He wrote several books on the subject, including The Case for the Defense and The Art of Cross-Examination. He also wrote a number of novels, including The Verdict and The D.A. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He was also a lecturer at Harvard Law School.