Louisiana Supreme Court Writ Denied
The Louisiana Supreme Court denied Shaw's application for review of the venue decision on April 23, 1968.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Clay LaVerne Shaw Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Clay LaVerne Shaw through 65 dated historical records for United States of America.
Clay LaVerne Shaw, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
65Distinct records
2 of 2Page
1968–1975Years on this page
1968
Federal Injunction Suit Filed
Shaw filed a federal lawsuit on May 27, 1968, seeking to stop the state conspiracy prosecution.
Temporary Restraining Order Issued
A temporary federal restraining order was issued on May 28, 1968, while Shaw's request to halt the state prosecution was considered.
Federal Three-Judge Court Review
A three-judge federal court considered Shaw's constitutional challenges to the pending state conspiracy prosecution in 1968.
1969
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
CIA monitors and responds to Jim Garrison's New Orleans investigation.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Later records link Shaw to CIA Domestic Contacts Service reporting.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The nature of this project is still classified; what little information there is suggests that those cleared for the project may possibly have been "unwitting," and that it may have been related to gathering information from businessmen
Trial
At the party, Russo said that Lee Harvey Oswald (who Russo said was introduced to him as "Leon Oswald"), David Ferrie, and "Clem Bertrand" (who Russo identified in the courtroom as Clay Shaw) had discussed killing Kennedy.
Trial
Clay Shaw, the man Garrison charged with conspiracy in the JFK murder, testified under oath "No, I have not" to the question "Mr. Shaw
Trial
During Shaws trial Russos testimony was discredited by the revelation that he underwent hypnosis and had been administered sodium pentathol, or "truth serum," at the request of the persecution.
Trial
During the trial, Russo testified that he had attended an "assassination party" at David Ferries apartment, where Shaw, Ferrie, and Lee Harvey Oswald had discussed killing President Kennedy.
Trial
Later records link Shaw to CIA Domestic Contacts Service reporting.
Trial
The conversation included plans for the "triangulation of crossfire" and alibis for the participants. Russo claimed in September, 1963, he overheard Shaw and David Ferrie discussing the proposed assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Trial
The jury didnt see enough evidence to convict Shaw, and gave a verdict of not guilty. Russo testifies that he had attended a party at the apartment of anti-Castro activist David Ferrie.
Trial
the period 1948 to 1956
Trial
Shaw is acquitted less than one hour after the case went to the jury
Perjury Information Filed
On March 3, 1969, Garrison signed an information charging Shaw with perjury based on testimony Shaw had given during the conspiracy trial.
Arrest of Clay Shaw
The end result of Garrisons investigation was the arrest and trial of New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw in 1969
Forty-Day Conspiracy Trial
The appellate record later described Shaw's conspiracy prosecution as a forty-day trial culminating in his March 1969 acquittal.
1971
Perjury Trial Restraining Order Application
On the scheduled date of his perjury trial, Shaw sought a federal restraining order to stop Garrison from proceeding with the prosecution.
Federal Permanent Injunction
A federal district court permanently barred Garrison's office from continuing the pending perjury prosecution against Shaw on May 27, 1971.
1972
Fifth Circuit Injunction Affirmed
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the injunction protecting Shaw from further prosecution on the perjury charge.
1974
Death of Clay LaVerne Shaw
Death of Clay Shaw
Truth and Consequences Inc
Shaw was engaged in a $5 million suit against Garrison and members of an organization, Truth and Consequences Inc., that financed Garrisons investigation. With no surviving relatives, the United States Supreme Court dismissed the suit in 1978
1975
Clay Shaw Papers Preserved
Shaw's family donated his papers to the National Archives, creating an archival collection documenting his finances, writings, trial, and acquittal.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.