James T. Stark has died, a man who embodied impressive contradictions.<br><br>As a criminal defense attorney, Jim stood up for the least among us, defending the common man's sixth amendment right to counsel, no matter what that common man might have done, which often turned out to be plenty.<br><br>A common man himself, Jim opened his heart to the little guy, embracing underdogs everywhere. From his hard-scrabble roster of clients to his beleaguered Washington Commanders, Jim felt most comfortable around those pushing rocks uphill for a living.<br><br>Yet he was also a first-rate misanthrope, an acerbically hilarious man of letters for whom no folly escaped disparagement.<br><br>If you didn't mind blundering into Jim's crosshairs once in awhile, or being temporarily deprived of oxygen for the laughter, you counted Jim a friend for life.<br><br>But no memory of Jim eclipses his boundless love for dogs, particularly the stray, the vulnerable, the unwanted. Jim buried six dogs we know of, and leaves a seventh to kind neighbors.<br><br>Jim's ashes and last farewells were dispersed by friends both local and national.<br><br>He was adored and is missed.<div></div><br>