James S. Valliant
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James S. Valliant was a Deputy District Attorney for San Diego County for 16 years, during which time he prosecuted offenders for violent crimes. He served as prosecutor on the Charles DeWoody murder case, and wrote for the California Supreme Court on behalf of the California District Attorneys Association.
He is the author of The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics (2005) and the editor of private journals of Ayn Rand used extensively in that work. The first book-length critical analysis of the biographical works of Nathaniel Branden and Barbara Branden, PARC created controversy among students and admirers of Ayn Rand, leading a number of individuals to cease association with The Objectivist Center due to both Brandens' association with that organization.
The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics aims to demonstrate that the Brandens' works on Rand contain allegations that are either untrue or misleadingly incomplete and that these works suffer from self-serving biases and distortions, especially given their authors' central roles in the events related.
Valliant is a native of Los Angeles, California. His father, William, was an electronics engineer with numerous patents, and a recipient, among other awards, of an Academy Award for his technical contribution to film, while his mother, Carol, was a child actress in film and television. He graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a degree in philosophy, where he took courses under the Austrian School economist, Israel Kirzner. Valliant received his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego, where he studied under Bernard Siegan and Kenneth Culp Davis and where he was an Instructor of Law. Valliant also studied privately with noted Objectivist philosopher Leonard Peikoff, who is Rand's designated legal and, according to some, "intellectual" heir.
In 1995, Valliant, working with his wife Holly, created the television interview show, Ideas in Action, which went on to win two Cinema in Industry (CINDY) Awards for Valliant's interviews with Brad Hunt and Leonard Peikoff[1]. Valliant continues to appear as a regular commentator on several news programs in San Diego, California area, as a religious, legal, and political analyst, and is a regular contributor to the website SoloPassion.com.
Valliant is currently working on his next book, concerning "the origins and nature of the New Testament."[2]
[edit] References and notes
- ^ Cinema In Industry 1996 Winners cindys.com (Accessed 31 December 2006)
- ^ Amazon.com Product Information: The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics amazon.com (Accessed 31 December 2006)
