Richard Banks was born on March 8, 1942, in Philadelphia. He graduated from Villanova Law School in 1968 and took up the practice of law, first in general practice, then, beginning in 1972 as a public defender. He resigned from the Public Defender’s office in 1979 to resume private practice. In 1982, he returned to the Public Defender’s office to try major felony cases.
Bank has conducted Continuing Legal Education courses on jury techniques, and serves as an adjunct professor at Villanova Law School.
Bank’s poetry has appeared in numerous small press poetry journals. He has conducted a poetry reading series for the Mad Poets Society in the Philadelphia area.