The Justinian Volume 1977 Article 1 Issue 1 March

1977 The uJ stinian

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Recommended Citation (1977) "The usJ tinian," The Justinian: Vol. 1977 : Iss. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian/vol1977/iss1/1

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JUSTINIAN extends its appreciation to the Local History Department at St. Francis College and the Brooklyn Public Library for their assistance in the preparation of this ~U!ittutau issue.

VOL. XXXVII ~222 TUESDAY. MARCH 29. 1977 NO.7

It Started In A Basement • • • By MARCIA KNIGIN autonomous institution for the of the courses they felt should Appeals. By fall semester Dean first time. After disassociating be taught. Richardson then tore J erome Prince and Professor Brooklyn Law School began with the Heffley School, Brook­ the list in half and said to Milton Gershenson, then stu­ in 1901 as a department of the lyn Law School moved to the Easterday, "You teach these and dents at BLS, were both on the Heffley School of Business. third floor of a brownstone at I'll teach the rest." Unfortun­ Review. Dean William Payson Richard­ 187 Montague Street. The li­ ately, neither Easterday nor In 1943 St. Lawrence was be­ son, the first Dean of BLS, met brar y was situated in a bedroom Richardson felt equipped to sieged by financial difficulty and Norman P . Heffley, a New York measuring only 96 square feet. teach New York Practice since decided to sell the law school. businessman, at a convention Two classrooms were set up in they were both unfamiliar with Justice William Carswell, then a in Providence, R.I. Richardson larger front and rear bedrooms. New York Law. So they hired member of the Board of Trus­ had written a textbook on com­ A shingle hung from the window ano ther faculty member to teach tees of BLS, violently opposed mercial law, which had im­ announcing to the community the course. this action. He negotiated a sep­ pressed Heffley, and when they that Brooklyn Law School was Another Move aration between BLS and St. met, Heffley asked Richardson located there. Lawrence. Although Carswell In 1928 the school again if he would be interested in University Affiliation saved the school, this separa­ moved, this time to 375 Pearl starting a law school in Brook­ By 1903 the first class was tion left BLS with virtually no Street. This was the first build­ lyn. Heffley said he had been about to graduate. They were funds. In 1945 Dean William ing built specifically fo r Brook­ considering the idea for a while concerned about their fate in Payson Richardson died, and lyn Law School. The build­ and thought such a school would light of the fact that BLS had Carswell, still a sitting judge of ing still stands on Pearl be highly successful since there no degree - conferring power. the Appellate Division was ap­ Street bet wee n Willoughby were no other law schools in Richardson searched the state pointed Dean. Jerome Prince, Street and Myrtle Avenue and Brooklyn at the time. for a university that would be now Dean Emeritus, was ap­ NORMAN P. HEFFLEY was presently houses the Brooklyn Heffley became the President willing to affiliate with a brand­ pointed Vice Dean and later As­ a founder of Brooklyn Law Friends School. The building of the Board of Trustees and new law school. He learned that sociate Dean, and virtually ran School. He was born in Ber· when owned by BLS was called Richardson became the Dean. St. Lawrence University in Can­ the school while Carswell at­ lin. Pa. in 1854 and worked Richardson Hall, named after the In 1901 the first classes were ton, N.Y., had had a law school, tended to his duties in the for Standard Oil Co. from Dean. The library was consider­ held in the basement of the but it had been closed down. The Appellate Division. Prince set 1878-1889 until he assumed ed large at the time with 50,000 Heffley School building at 243 Dean negotiated with St. Law­ up a refresher course for charge of Pratt Institute. The volumes of reference books. (Our Ryerson Street. There were sev­ rence and entered into a contract veterans to attract business Heffley School. which started present library has over 120,000 en students in the first year of association between St. Law­ from those returning from the BLS in 1901. itself began as volumes.) class, one of whom was Francis rence and Brooklyn L aw School the commerce department of war. Prince and one other pro­ Wh en the United States enter­ X. Carmody, co-author of the which provided that Brooklyn Pratt Institute. In 1895 Hef· fessor taught all the courses for ed World War II in 1941, the Carmody-Wait treatise in New Law School students would be fley disassociated from Pratt virtually no salary, and funds school was practically decimat­ York Practice, who later became granted degrees from St. Law­ and set up his own school. collected in tuition served to get ed. There was a time during a member of the BLS faculty. rence University. which still exisfs as a secre­ the institution through the that period when there were The tuition was $80 a year, and In 1904 BLS again moved its tarial school on Montague financial crisis. only 30 students and three full a college degree was not a re­ headquarters to the Brooklyn Street in Brooklyn. Since its inception, Heffley quirement for admission. Candi­ Eagle Building on Washington time professors in the entire and Richardson owned the dates were required to pursue a and J ohnson Streets, the pres­ school, contrasted with a stu­ school as a proprietorship. Soon three-year course of study for ent site of the Surrogate's Brooklyn Eagle newspaper. dent body of over 1,500 before after its separation from St. admission to the Bar. The re­ Court. This building, one of the In that year Richardson con­ the war began . Lawrence, BLS became a non­ quirement could be fulfilled by most famous in Brooklyn, has tacted a fellow alumnus from The Justinian was first pub­ profit institution. Professor Rich­ attending classes or by work in sin ce been demolished. It housed the University of Maryland law lished in 1931. Law Review be­ ard J . Maloney became the a law office. College graduates BLS on the third, fourth and school, John Howar d Easterday, gan the following year. The first school's counsel when he drafted needed only to fill a two-year fifth floo rs for fourteen years. to help teach the subjects BLS volume was dedicated to B enja­ the agreement for the purchase requirement. The remaining floors were oc­ was to offer. The two men sat mi n Cardozo, then Chief Judge of th e BLS stock from Richard- In 1902 the school became an cupied by others, including the down and wrote a horizontal list of the New York State Court of (C01ltimted on Page 4) Jerome Prince: A legend Early BL S Ads By JOYCE BALABAN DAVID He worked at all sorts of menial mother was an incredibly jobs including in a gas station. charming, delightful woman, When you think of Dean Jer­ . .. . While he was in law school very bright, and she was some­ H EFFLEY SCHOOL, ome Prince, you think of Brook­ he was working for an insur­ what active politically, in h er lyn Law School. He is Mr. BLS. ance company. area, bu t they were very poor. 243t 245 Ryerson Street, Brooklyn. His friends, colleagues, students "He came from a poor family, and former students all speak of "There were four brothers. a poor background. They lived him with the highest respect J erry had an older brother and Bookkeepi ng; Stenography, in Washington Heights. His and affection. there were two younger brothers. Typewriting, Preparatory, Dean Prince and his brother Ira Belfer, of Belfer and Bo­ Harold wrote mystery stories. High School, Regents, Law, gart, went through BLS with They could have had quite a Languages, Civil Engineering. Dean Prince and has been one career in it. It started originally of his closest friends ever since. after they wrote a story for Day and Evening. tc.~ tc.>~ Begin any Time. Mr. Belfer is also Vice Presi­ Ellery Queen magazine, which dent of the Alumni Association won a prize. They h ad devel­ NEW" BUILDING. at BLS. "He [Dean Prince] was oped a police inspector who was T elephone S'Q A Main. always a spectacular, brillia'1t a BLS graduate, a v ery inter­ Advertisement from "The Brooklyn Eagle" of 1901. The student. H e stood out so far in esting character. They began to advance of the rest of the class write a series of these detective "Law" department of the Heffley School later became BLS. that there was never any ques­ stories, and they were extreme­ tion that he was the leading ly well received. One of them student in the class. is in the archives of the Mu­ "He was working while going seum of Modern Art and was to school, as most of us were. done for television - The Man If you can imagine such a thing, in the Green Velvet Hat. Others Photo by Ken Sh iotani Advertisement from "The Brooklyn Eagle" of 1905. he went to high school at night. Dean Jerome Prince. 1977 (Continued em Page 4)

Published by BrooklynWorks, 1977 1 ..

The Justinian, Vol. 1977 [1977], Iss. 1, Art. 1

PaCje Two JUSTINIAN Tuesday. March 29. 1977 Justinian Th e Man Responsible For BLS l leo Glasser: Published under the auspices of the Student Bar Association Alumnus, Judge, BROOKL YN LAW SCHOOL ProFessor 250 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. 11201 Speciailo Th e Juslini an Judge I. L eo Glasser, present- Telephone (212) 625-2200 Ext. 50 ly a Family Court J udge and a professor at Brooklyn Law School, began night sc hool as a EDITORS student at BLS in 1942, but was Marcia Knigin Richard Grayson able to complete only one sem­ J oel Mitofsky Linda Riley ester before being drafted into the service. He returned three CONTRIBUTORS years later and joined a class Joyce Balaban David, Diane Fernandez, Kim Steven Juhase, very different from the present John Rashak, Ken Shiotani, Manuel Taitz. law school. Approximately 90 (Editorials express the opinion of the Editorial Board) percent of the students were veterans of the war, who, like Copyright ® 1977 by BLS Student Bar A ssociation himself, had their lives inter­ rupted by the war and were now anxious to get on with the business of life and careers. Judge Glasser described them as For any institution to survive for a period of 75 years very mature and highly moti­ is in itself an accomplishment. For an institution of higher vated. learning to survive not only through such a period but to Judge Glasser found himself produce learned academicians, judges, politicians and at­ spending 16 to 18 hours a day torneys is a laudable achievement. On the 75th anniversary at the law school, seven days a week after his fi rst year. He of this law school, the time is appropriate to reflect on, was Editor-in-Chief of the Law recognize and commend this institution for all its accom­ Review at a time when many plishments and achievements. o[ the notable alumni of Brook­ The time is also appropriate to undertake a serious lyn Law School were members of his staff: Leonard Garment, appraisal of the law school as it exists today and its pros­ William Payson Richardson. co-founder of BLS. former Counsel to the President pects for a healthy future. Survival is still an issue. The He was the first dean and served from 1901 to 1945. under Nixon; Judge Allan Bel­ accomplishments of the past 75 years can provide only a By MARCIA KNIGIN dock, N. Y. Criminal Court portion of the impetus necessary for the continued develop­ William Payson Richardson and study law. After graduating Judge; Euge ne Gold, District At­ ment of Brooklyn Law School. An assessment of the school was highly respected in the he taught in Chicago and later torney, Kings County; and Pro­ as it enters into the final quarter of its first centennial re­ Brooklyn Legal Community. in Baltimore. He wrote many fessor Samue l Hoffman, Brook­ veals serious need for change. BLS must devise and imple­ With Norman P . H effley he legal textbooks. His most noted lyn Law School. founded Brooklyn Law School is Richardson on Evidence. Judge Glasser felt that if it ment plans aimed at making BLS an institution that plays and became its first Dean. which is now revised by Dean had not been for BLS, he would a much more vital role in the legal community, that plays Prince. He also wrote Richard­ a more supportive and innovative role in the education and Richardson was born in Fa rm­ son on Commercial Law. Rich· training of its students and that fosters an air of intellectual er Center, Ohio, on November 6, ardson on Contracts. Selected 1894, one of seven children. He purpose and pursuit that currently appears to be lacking. Cases in Evidence. Guaranty and was awarded an LL.B. by the Suretyship and the Law of Evi­ Students, professors, administrators and trustees, in­ University of Maryland Law dence. Norman Heffley, a New dividually and collectively, are responsible for the atmos­ School in 1895. At that time York businessman, was aware phere that exists within the school's walls and the image United States Supreme Court of Richardson's work on com­ Justice Harlan was the Dean of mercial law and proposed the that is conveyed outside those walls. For this reason, any the Law School and according attempt at closing avenues of communication and cooper­ idea of opening a law school in to Richardson was quite instru­ Brooklyn. Richardson, a tall ath­ ation between these four components should be rejected. mental in helping him get letic m a n who stood over 6 feet Open and animated discourse should be actively encouraged, through school. Harlan bent and weighed 200 pounds, was not subtly stymied. Issues of vital importance, affecting the rules for Richardson to accom­ always willing to pursue a chal­ modate his busy schedule. growth and stability of the institution, must be confronted. lenge and accepted the position A world, changing dramatically in both a legal and societal One time Richardson was per­ as Dean. He held it until his mitted to take an examination death in 1945. way, poses new challenges that cannot be ignored. Each of in the building where he taught He was an active member of the four components must be included in the decision-mak­ several undergraduate courses the New York Bar Association, Pholo by Ken Shiolani ing process if this school is to maintain a rational and while his classmates took the and one of his accomplishments Judge I. Leo Glasser creative approach to legal education. exam in the law school. Rich­ was perfecting the New York not have had the opportunities Earlier this year a new administration was sworn into ardson always wanted to teach State Bar Examination. which he h as had. "Brooklyn power in Washington. This administration has emphasized Law School has made it possible its concern for human rights in all corners of the world. Later for countless people who could Pearl Street Cornerstone not get it otherwise to get a this year a new Dean will be "sworn into power" at BLS. legal edu~at ion ; they never ask- It seems proper to suggest that one of the new dean's top d what a person's race, creed priorities will be instilling a higher degree of humanity or color was. And Brooklyn Law to BLS. School has given to those who The new Dean will be responsible for the remodeling have attended it a fine legal ed­ ucation, which is not appreci­ of the process by which new students are admitted to BLS. ated by many students there The currently practiced "one man rule" mode of admissions now and many who have grad­ has serious shortcomings and should be immediately chang­ uated." He believes that stu­ ed. The Commit'tee on Admissions, presently dormant, dents have an unjustified infer­ should be revived and reconstituted with new members and iority complex, which he fe Is a real purpose. Guidelines for admission should be discussed may be partially attributed to the students' failure to recognize and drawn up by representatives of the student body, fac­ the quality of the education and ulty, administration and trustees. Nothing is more crucial the school's failure to convey to the future health of this institution than the student body this fact to the students. it receives. Because of the high percent­ The time has passed for BLS to express affirmatively age of BLS alumni who pass and implement a commitment to increasing the number of the New York Bar, many peo­ ple have considered BLS just a its minority students. Situated in a bustling section of a long bar review course. How­ borough that is as ethnically, racially and socially diverse ever, Judge Glasser considers as any community in this country, BLS should be able to Pearl Street Building Cornerstone Laying - the high percentage a positive play a vital role in the preparation and development of Dean William Payson Richardson laying the cornerstone of the attribute of the school. "If you attorneys peculiarly equipped to deal with the variety of Pearl Street Building (375 Pearl Street). The day w as damp and think about it honestly, the bar exam is testing, without prior problems such a metropolis presents. Currently, barely six rainy. Professor Francis X. Carmody. then professor at BLS at­ tended the ceremony and caught a cold. Five days later he was the notice, the ability to analyze a percent of the entire student body is comprised of minority principal speaker at a dinner sponsored by the alumni association. problem, ascertain the legal is­ students. This number is appalling. By increasing this fi gure He attended. although he had a cold and later contracted pneu ­ sues and apply the law. And (Ccmtinued on Page 7) monia. He died a short time later. (Contil1ued on Page 6) https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian/vol1977/iss1/1 2 et al.: The Justinian

Tuesday, March 29, 1977 JUS TIN I A N Paqe Three Richar son's Successors

PhotobyKenShiotani Photo by Ken Sh io tani Justice William B. CarswelL Dean Emeritus J erOIlle Prince. Dean Raymond E. Lisle. Dean 1945-1953 Dean 1953-1971 Dean 1971 -Present Thumbs Up For BLS: Badillo And Sutton By RICHARD GRAYSON ing yo u get in law school, so that getting more members of minor­ By MANUEL T AITZ was always an attorn y, the de­ The BLS graduate who is you can discuss any subject ity groups into law school. He Percy Sutton graduated from fense counsel often not. It ou t­ probably better known in the reasonably intelligently." would like to see BLS develop Brooklyn Law School in 1950. raged me, and I was determined halls of Congress than any other BLS has a good reputation an outreach progL-am. H e thinks During the Korean W ar he then to become a lawyer." alumnus is Congressman Her­ among attorneys that Badillo has that the problem in attracting served both as an Intelligence After the war, he returned to man Badillo, who graduated in dealt with and known. "I think minority students lies initially Officer and as a Trial Judge New York to attend Brooklyn 1954. Badillo represents the 21st that [BLS] is known to have with the public school system. Advocate in the Unite d States Law School a nd found it to be New York congressional district, strong points as far as practicing " ... [T]he counselling that's pro­ Air Force. Upon the termination "a good working-man's school. which is in the Bronx. in New York State and New vided by the [New York City] of his military duties Percy Sut­ I was working two jobs ... and Board of Education is very in­ During the nights when B a­ York City are concerned, since ton entered private practice. He it was very convenient for me. adequate. It [was] just pure dillo took courses in the P earl it has an orientation toward served as President of the New I worked from 4 P .M. to mid­ chance that I got any orienta­ Street building, his nose was not New York State law and the York branch of the N .A.A.C.P. night in the Post Office and then tion at all ... I thought that it always buried in law books. Not problems of New York City. I from 1961-1962. In 1963 and 1964 from 12 :30 to 8:30 as a conductor was a strange country, the only was he in the accelerated he represented over 200 defend­ in the D train, then at 9:30 I United States, b ecause all the night course, so that he graduat­ ants who were arrested during was in law school till around 2. courses had to do with airplane ed at the same time as the day civil righs protests. Mr. Sutton (I did not need a lot of sleep, mechanics. I learned to take session students, but he held a himself was arrested as a Free­ but I studied in the Post Office a part an airplane engine. full-time job with a CPA firm, dom Rider in Jackson, Mississip­ and in the subway ... and I [One day] I was talking to some was married and was a mem­ pi, and on Route 40 in Maryland used "cans.") All of the subjects of the kids and they said, 'Look, ber of both moot court and law for attempting to desegregate you're in the airplane me:: hanics review. "I've always wanted to lunch counters. In 1964 h ~ wa3 course. If you want to go to col­ participate in extracurricular elected to the New York State lege, you have to transfer to the activities, but it's very difficult Legislature, where he s rved a3 academic courses.' Then I began to do that when you're going to an A ssemblyman. In 1966 he to look into the facts and I fo und law school at night and when was elected Manhattan Borough this was the case. I managed to you're working full-time in the President, was re-elected to a transfer to the academic course, daytime. As a matter of fact, second term in 1969, and to a and I went on to City College, when I was on the moot court thit·d term in 1973. where I graduated magna cum team, we used to stay up until It was his experiences in the laude, and in law school, I re­ three and four in the morning. military that motivated Mr. Sut­ ceived the firs t scholarship Once we got locked in the school ton to attend law school. " 1 was prize. So it seems to me that it b cause they forgot we were a pilot. I had to go into a segre­ should have been possible for th re and we had to climb out gated air force. You had to fight .Rep. Herman Badillo the Board of Education to figure of a window. We were almost segregated, but you could kill out that I was a pretty good arrested by the police, but, of think that it has a high reputa­ integrated. You could kill every­ student." course, as good moot court team tion as far as the practitioners one, but you had to fight sep­ members we were able to suc­ in the city are concerned." The Badillo al 0 believes that the arate from the others. [l was] ces fully' debate our way out of House member also noted the parents of many n1inority group assigned during World War II students are unable to counsel it." good reputation that BLS has to defend people I was not pre­ ManhaUan Borough Presiden.! their children because the par­ "You learn how to learn" on Wall Street. He was a part­ pared to defend. The prosecutor Percy E. Sutton ner, and then of counsel, with ents usually do not have much Badillo gives BLS high marks edu:: ation. Congressman Badillo were structured toward practic­ for providing him with the tools Stroock and Stroock and Lavan are going to need the services of before going on to Washington lived with his aunt while he at­ criminal lawyers. Criminal law­ ing law in New York and I liked to help him get where he is tended the city schools. Since she that, as opposed to other schools now. "There's no question that and "found that graduating from yers, unfortunately, can't get a BLS was regard d very highly did not speak English as well as decent f e from their clients. So that had much more philosophy being a lawyer basically trains he did, she did not know what of law. I thought ,Brooklyn Law you for just about any position in the Wall Street commun­ I think in the area of basic ity ...." colleges and professional schools criminal law we need to have a was extremely well structured that might be available in gov­ were available in N ew York and still is .. the education ernment because you learn how Badillo's hectic schedule dur­ system of Judicare, so that the ing his years at BLS was good City. The Congressman therefore was excellent. Everything was to learn, how to fin d out the poor people can get adequate training for the futw-e. "It was believes that law schools such representation." directed toward passing the bar law and how to find out what as BLS should make an effort and practicing thereafter. the basic policies are of any city, good training for the kind of hec­ Wha t does the Congressman tic life that you have in politics through outreach programs to feel is the trend of the future? "If anyone wants to go into state or federal agency. . . make minority students aware the arena of the world, in what­ Naturally, as a member of Con­ - to be able to do 10 different "What we [the Judiciary Com­ things at the same time and to of their opportunities. mittee] hope is that we can get ever area, the best prepara tion gress, the only reason I can now is in the law. It ought to teach be on the Judiciary Committee keep a very crowded schedule Congressman Badillo would over this period [a conservative and to be able to work 16, 18 and also like to see a federally­ trendJ without any serious dam­ you how to think. That is what is because I'm a lawyer, because it did for me as far as I can we're all required to be lawyers 20 hours a day, if necessary. In funded "Jud;care," a legal equi­ age to our basic fabric of pro­ evah'ate my own experience. I in that committee. Basically if that sense, it was the best train­ valent of Medicare. "The prob­ tections in the criminal justice think the law degree taught me you're in public life, you have ing you could have gotten." lem today is that poor people system. I think that we may how to think, how to digest and to be capable of debating on your The Puerto Rico-born Con­ can't affurd a good lawyer.... have a good chance of being able how to separate." feet, and this is the kind of train- gressman is very interested in An increasing number of people to do it."

Published by BrooklynWorks, 1977 3 The Justinian, Vol. 1977 [1977], Iss. 1, Art. 1

Page Four JU S TIN I AN Tuesday, March 29, 1971 Jerome Prince: A Lifetime Devoted (C01ltinued from Page 1) was not pulling its own weight. been for him I don't think there our feelings about the de­ in the course of our conversa­ were made into radio shows. "Confronted with this emer­ would be a BLS today. cisions," tion I made some allusion to a They were doing so well that at gency, Dean Prince (who was "What people don't realize, Assistant to the Dean Wil­ passage in the Bible. Dean Lisle. one point there was talk of a then assistant dean) and Judge however, is that he is a multi­ liam Holzman had this to much to my surprise, expresser' Hollywood offer. He was al­ Carswell who was to become faceted man. People don't real­ say about Jerome Prince: "He no familiarity with that pas­ ready teaching at the law school dean in 1945, wilen Richardson ize that you might get into .1 had the highest graduating av­ age, so I said, 'I'll show it t c at this time, and he was begin­ died) and a few o'thers went out discussion of philosophy or re­ erage ever attained at BLS you.' I happened to know thc\1 ning to be recognized as an im­ and with incredible tenacity ligion or science with him and from its inception, practically Dean Prince had a copy of tht portant teacher in law. So after were able to borrow some mon­ he'd be almost as good as he is perfect; no one has ever attain­ Old Testament in his office S l' weighing it very carefully, he ey and arrange to purchase the in discussing evidence. But ed anything like it. He was I went up to his office and 1 gave up mystery writing for the law school back from St. Law­ most people don't meet him on practically the founder of the said, 'Dean, can I borrow you ~' law." (According to the Dean, if rence University, in order to a social level." there had ever been a firm offer keep it open. The law school at Professor Milton Gershenson from Hollywood he doesn't that point was actually bank­ who also went through BLS in know what he would have done. rupt. They had nothing - few the Dean's class said, "He's a "It might have seriously changed students, no money, no reserves rare bird. He has an innate sense the course of my life.") of any kind - and staggered of law, a true instinct for law; "He became more and more along with these incredibly he is a true legal scholar. involved in the activities of the small classes and small faculty, "I remember when we were school, the administrative ac­ because everybody was at war. going to school together, we tivities as well as those of teach­ used to gather outside the ing and writing, and he was school building before classes • writing some of his own text­ and talk over the assignment, books. and if there was anything very "We staggered through •. ." complicated for some of us, "When Jerry and I were in Jerry would take a matchbook law school," Mr. Belfer con­ out of his pocket and draw a tinues, "it was during the worst diagram on it that would make part of the depression and most it very clear. He was always of us worked during the day able to lay it out on a match­ and went to school at night, book. which made it rather difficult. A Huma.n Logic Machine We would sit through our class­ "His greatest faculty is his es at the end of a long hard day feeling for law. He's the closest and then go home and do our thing to a human logic machine homework. That's the way we I have ever met. I don't think staggered through. At the time the man ever took a written it didn't seem that difficult or note in his life as a student. He had a tremendous memory, al­ Photo by Marcia Knig ir unpleasant. As a matter of fact Volume of prize-winning mystery stories. edited by Ellery Queen , most a legal computer." there was a tremendous amount including "The Finger Man" written by Dean Jerome Prince and Professor Albert DeMeo was of comradery. We had a group his brother Harold. of very good friends, and we also in BLS when Dean Prince had a lot of fun. There was a was a student there, but he was Law Review and helped create copy of the Bible?' and Prince group of us who sat on one side in the class one year behind the the Justinian. said to me: 'Do you want the of the classroom which seemed Dean's. He speaks very fondly "He took this school from a casebook or the textbook?'" like a jury box in the court­ of the Dean. state of complete bankruptcy "I left out a Bar answer" room. One time a couple of stu­ "He was just a super student, up to a point where it was very "When I looked around for a dents in that section got up and the typical intellectual student. strong, viable and well endowed, law school," said Dean Prince, gave one of the professors a that he is today, a real scholaI' with a beautiful building. "it had to be a city school. I hard time on some question, so in every sense of the word, "He's asked to address judges' couldn't afford to go out of he called us the left wing. At What I will always carry with conferences all over the coun­ town. In those days scholarships that time it had no political con­ me is that Jerry's been a very, try and discuss evidence with were few and far between, so notations. Jerry, of course, was very dear friend of mine, a gen­ them, and his book, Richardson Columbia was out of my finan­ in that group, and throughout tleman, a scholar, someone that on Evidence is a standard vol­ cial range, and NYU Law the remainder of our time at you can recall with a lot of ume in practically every court School was not then what it is affection. law school, we were members of in the country; it's the Bible on today. So I decided on BLS. I "I know I constantly go up the left wing. evidence." was one of the founders of the there every morning, early, be­ Professor Richard Farrell, Law Review. I was later its "One of the amazing things I Dean Jerome Prince. captain of fore the classes start and we'll who was a former student of the editor-in-chief. I also wrote edi­ remember about Jerry was his the faculty basketball team. De­ engage in conversation about Dean's, has a favorite story he torials for the Justinian. I w as ability to find the time to do cember 1940. all of the things that he did - new decisions. It's always a like to tell that indicates how president of my class, and I working and going to law school When the war ended Dean pleasure to go up and sit down holy Richardson on Evidence graduated number one, summa and getting top grades and run­ Prince got the idea of giving a there. You know there are no really is: cum laude. ning the law review and the refresher course to the return­ airs about him, the door is al­ "One day a few years ago, I "When I graduated from law Justinian. He graduated BLS ing lawyers who had been in ways wide open and we discuss was talking to Dean Lisle, and (Continued on Page 7) with the highest grades ever at­ the army and had been away tained by anyone going to the from it for three or four years. school. In college he was also a With the help of a few faculty More History, More History top student. He went to City members, he organized and gave (Continued from Page J) former United States State D e­ College, and he was just an all the refresher course to return­ son's wife and Heffley's two partment official and professor a1. around student there. He was ing students and they made a sisters. BLS, was appointed in his place. Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude very sizeable amount of money In 1948 BLS won the National and he remains in that position and a brilliant student. His pri­ in a matter of a few weeks. Moot Court Championship by today. Dean Lisle has tendered mary interest there was biology, From then on, the flow of stu­ defeating Harvard in the final his resignation, effective later and when he graduated there dents began again and the for­ round. The team, which was the this year. The search for the was a fair chance that he might tunes of the law school began only one to win the champion­ new Dean, led by Jerome become a biologist. But that to look up very substantially. ship for BLS, was led by Leon­ Prince, has already begun. The would have meant going on to "His ideas were constantly ard Garment, former White final choice is expected soon, a post graduate course in the innovative and it's my personal House Special Consultant d ur­ and early indications point to daytime, which he couldn't af­ opinion that if it had not been ing the Nixon administration. Judge 1. Leo Glasser of the ford, so he went to law school for Dean Prince, the law school In 1953 Dean Carswell died, Family Court being named to instead, where you could go in would not have survived, be­ and Dean Prince assumed the the deanship. the evening. It is my personal cause he's the one thread of position as Dean. Lisle was effective in bring­ conviction that if he had gone continuity that went through When the site of the old Su­ ing the law school onto the na­ into biology or almost any other the law school. There's no doubt preme Court Building on Jora1- tional scene by gaining accredi­ field, he would have done at that Dean Richardson was a sort emon and Boerum Streets went tation by the American Associa­ least as well, if not better and of Moses who established BLS up for auction, Prince was au­ tion of Law Schools in 1973. Un­ this I think is the ultimate and may have brought it almost thorized to bid up to 3/ 4 of a til that time it was the policy of judgment of his intellect. to the land of milk and honey million dollars on behalf of the the AALS to limit accreditation "At the beginning of World but the law school never f ul­ school. This site, which houses Prof. John Howard Easterday. to law schools associated with War II, the student population filled its potential under him. our present building, was also professor at BLS. 1903-1933. universities. BLS broke this dropped almost to zero, and for One of the most brilliant things the site of a burial ground for precedent, and thereafter other the first time, the law school be­ that Dean Richardson did was victims of yellow fever in 1803. separate electricity, heat and unaffiliated law schools gained gan to lose money. BLS was to recognize Dean Prince's tal­ In 1969 the building was com­ air conditioning controls for the accreditation. During Lisle's affiliated at that time with st. ents and to t ake him in and to pleted and dedicated in time for executive offices, the library years as Dean the curriculum Lawrence University; it was more or less make him a pro­ the fall semester. It was de­ and the classrooms. was also drastically changed their law department. The trus­ tege. From the thirties on, Dean signed by the designers of Shea In 1971 Dean Prince retired from one principally of required tees of St. Lawrence decided to Prince has been the string of Stadium. The building is really as Dean and was named Dean courses to one primarily of elec­ close the law school because it continuity and if it had not three in one, in that there are Emeritus. Raymond Lisle, a tives.

https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian/vol1977/iss1/1 4 et al.: The Justinian

Tuesday, March 29, 1977 JUSTINIAN The Odyssey Of A Law School

187 Montague Street. the site of BLS from 1902 to 1903. BLS "The Brooklyn Eagle" building at the corner of Washington occupied the third floor of that brownstone. and if you look and Johnson Streets. It was the sile of BLS from 1903 to closely. you will see a shingle bearing the name of the school. 1928.

375 Pearl Street. the site of BLS from 1926 to 1969. Photo by Marcia Knigin 250 Joralemon Street. the present site of BLS.

Published by BrooklynWorks, 1977 5 The Justinian, Vol. 1977 [1977], Iss. 1, Art. 1

Page Six JUSTINIAN Tuesday, March 29, 1977 Justice Abraham Multer Maloney: An Old Soldier Of A Legal Scholar By KIM STEVEN JUHASE were doing in the classroom, By JOHN RASHAK expected to be present. When he still the dean of the Law School. On Monday, September 30, about our assignments. We ac­ Professor Richard Joseph Ma- began teaching he earned a "You used to have to be able to 1918, a young man left his house tually discussed the cases we loney retired from active teach- salary of $2,500 a year . teach any course. That was the in the west end of Coney Island were studying. We discussed ing duties at BLS this year after Maloney remembers his days sign of a good law professor." for his first day at Brooklyn the text we were stUdying. I completing 50 years as a profes- as a student at BLS fondly. "In One day Richardson fired a pro­ Law School. After about a 11/2 think that as a result of the ex­ sor. He graduated BLS summa those days we had the greatest fessor. He went to Maloney and hour trip on the train, Abraham change of ideas bttween us we cum laude in 1927 and began faculty that will ever be known told him h e'd have to fill in and Multer arrived at Borough Hall did a better job in mastering our teaching the following year. Ma- in law school, if it goes on 150 start teaching Wills the very and headed toward the corner assignments. In addition to that, loney attended school at night years. The professors were next day. Maloney had never of W ashington and Johnson many of us [fellow fraternity while working as a construction great, very strict." Included in taught the course before and had Streets. Brooklyn Law School members] would gather on a superintendent during the day. Maloney's list of professors were 24 hours to learn the subject had rented out the third, fourth Saturday afternoon in a law of­ He studied at St. Francis Col- Francis X. Carmody (author of thoroughly. "Dean Richardson and fifth floors of the Brooklyn fice where one or more of u s lege for two years and then en- a famous treatise on New York often gave assignments on very Eagle Building. Unlike most in­ were working and again review tered the service dW'ing World Practice) and Dean William short notice. And when he call- coming freshmen, he was not the week's work. Occasionally, War I. He served on a destroyer Payson Richardson, expert in d, you had better be ready, or apprehensive. He had taken we did relax over cards or what for four years and entered law Evidence. you could be the next to go." some courses in Commercial have you, but by and large they school when he returned. Maloney has been very active with BLS during his tenW'e as Law at the Brooklyn Evening were work sessions. I made my Maloney complains of the lack a professor and continues to be Division of the City College of closest friends from the frater­ of motivation in law students of counsel to the law school. H e got New York and so thought he nity. today. He says they are "keen­ the job in 1943 after drawing up had some idea what was ex­ Justice Multer had great re­ er" than those of earlier days, the contract for sale of the P ea rl pected. spect for his professors at BLS. but students of years ago were Street building b; St. Lawrence Abraham Multer eventually "We all looked up to many of hungrier for knowledge. He em­ to BLS, when BLS became an • went on to serve over 20 years the professors. Of course Dean phasizes that there are no short­ autonomous institution. He also in Congress and is currently a Richardson, who taught con­ cuts to success. He stresses the drew the present BLS charter. Kings County Supreme Court tracts and evidence, was in the need for required courses after Although Carswell, who succeed­ Justice and President of the BLS opinion of most of us the gem the first year and feels that the ed Richardson as Dean in 1945, Alumni Association. of professors. He was by all curriculum as a whole is not offered Maloney a trusteeship, "During my first year I work­ means the greatest teacher of realistic enough. "The common Maloney refused. "I thought it ed from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. and teachers. 1 think it was his idea law is the key to understanding would bring about a conflict to went to the afternoon ses ion to combine the text book s tudy the law." Malone's theory is both teach and rule over the with the case law study. Many that you can't speak knowledge­ from 4 to 6, and during the sec­ teachers." ond and third year I went to the of the law schools at that time ably about changing the law Maloney's half century at would insist tha t the students until you understand the com­ 8 to 10 P.M. session because my BLS allows him to make com­ work in the law office required read the cases as reported in mon law. the official reorts. He combined parisons few others can make. a full day up to and beyond fiv e Maloney was awarded a JSD the text book with the case Photo by Marcia Knigin He says, "The tone of the school o'clock and most times a full from BLS in 1941 and an honor­ study and 1 think this was a n Prof. Richard Maloney. profes· has changed. A striking demon­ day on Saturday." ary LL.D. in 1974. He is presently innovation that was very valu­ sor at BLS for 50 years. stration of this is the dress of Tuition was $150 the Chairman of the Committee able to the student body. In ad­ students today. It is absolutely All courses except profession­ on Character and Fitness of the Maloney describes the requi­ abominable." Maloney blames dition to Dean Richardson, we Appellate Division's Second De­ sites of a good law professor as this relaxation of the previous al responsibility were required. had teaching us [Francis X .] partment. In addition he was a one who "must love his subject, jacket-and-tie requirement at Most of Justice Multer's fellow Carmody, who taught us prac­ director of the Inter-County know his subject, and also have BLS on "the informal dress of students had to work their way tice, and as you know, he w rote Title Co. and a trustee of the the ability to 'dish it.'" The the World War II veterans." through school, even though the the finest text on practice in Brooklyn Bar Association in the many students who have enjoyed His advice to BLS: "Improve tuition was $150 a year in 1919. New York. Professor [John post war years. Maloney is still the way he "dished it" include Moot Cow·t and the clinical pro­ Most of the students were at Howard] Easterday taught do­ practicing law with his partner, Judge I. Leo Glasser, Dean grams, because these are vital least 19 a nd 20 years old, be­ mestic relations, and we all got Col. John C. Doyle, also a BLS Prince, and Professors Gershen­ aspects of a legal education." cause a college degree was not a kick out of his delight in call­ graduate (class of 1926). Fifty son, Crea, Meehan and Hoffman. His advice to job-seekers: " G et required for admission. For ing on a female student to give those who had no college degree, years ago, while still attending Characterizing himself as an out of New York City." all the 'dirty details' of a re­ law school, Maloney worked as "old title man," Maloney recall­ He has got a lot of advice, but one year of clerkship was re­ ported case where the issue was quired before taking the bar a clerk in a law office for $5 a ed that he used to "eat, sleep remember that this "old title adultery." week. The office was open six and live property." Maloney re­ man" has taught almost every­ exam. "I think today that you According to Multer, though get a much more mature student days a week (until 5:00 on Sat­ members vividly his early teach­ one who is giving advice at BLS most of the professors were will­ urday), and all employees were ing days when Richardson was today. as far as age is concerned, not ing to help the students, many so far as experience is concern­ students were afraid to take ad­ ed. These young men and wom­ vantage of the opportunity. en who had to work for a living JUSTiniAn Files Unearthed were much more mature than (Contin1l ed from Page 8) committee (with Professors Tra­ BLS for failure to reach out into the student just coming out of kosch's class would be permit­ ger, Ronayne, and Holzer sit­ the community and solicit com­ college who didn't have to work ted to drop the course. Admin­ ting as members) to look into petitive minority candidates for for a living," Multer explained. istrative Law was a required allegations of student cheating enrollment into BLS). And on About 20 0/0 of the students course at that time. The sec­ on exams. November 23, 1976 Justinian re­ were women, and Jews were a tion assigned to Professor For­ The issue published on April ported the resignation of all six minority. "There were a min­ kosh had been unhappy with 24, 1975 reported that a BLS faculty members of the student­ imum of Italians. 1 can't re­ him the prior semester and sub­ student had been elected Gov­ faculty curriculum committee member a single person of mitted a grievance to the Fac­ ernor for the Second Circuit of after an SBA battle over the Spa nish or Puerto Rican ances­ ulty Committee on &udent Re­ the American Bar Association, stL dent chairman of the com­ lations. Dea n Prince accepted try, a nd I can't remember any Law Student Division. That mittee. A s a result the commit­ the proposal that students could blacks during my four years at same issue reported that the tee did not function for most of drop the course and take it the BLS' International Moot Court the 1976-77 school year. The the law schooL" following year. Team won the Regional Compe­ most recent issue of Justinian. Since most of the BLS stu­ The lead story in the Febru­ tition by defeating Rutgers, dents during the early 1920's had February 17, 1977 has a front ary 18, 1972 issue concerned a Yale and tying Fordham. page headline, "Glasser New to work, the range of activities Photo by Ken Shiotani lawsuit brought against BLS by On November 10, 1975 it was Dean?" The article speculates at BLS was very narrow. There Justice Abraham Multer expelled students, Sam Grafton reported that the faculty voted that Judge I. Leo Glasser will was no law review or school "I think most of the students and Lyle Silversmith. The sta­ to cut required courses from the be named by the Board of Trus­ newspaper. There was no SBA, held Dea n Richardson in awe ted reason for expulsion by BLS curriculum after the first year. tees to succeed Dean Lisle. though there was a Marshall and had an unnatural fear about was, "failure to maintain the And the December 1, 1975 issue Society which acted like an talking to him. But he w as ac­ minimum required scholastic carried a story about a profes­ SBA. However, there w re four cessible and anyone who want­ average." Plaintiffs argued that sor who was fired because of fraternities - 'Phi Delta Phi, ed to see him, he'd listen to the minimum standard was ar­ failure to discharge his obliga­ Theta Phi, Iota Theta and them, he was very patient. The bitrary and capricious. They tions including failure to per­ Glosser Om ga Chi. The first two would other professors w ere also amen­ also argued that they were be­ form assigned administrative (Contin1led from Page 2) not accept Jews, a nd the latter able to visits with the students." ing discriminated against for duties and threatening and ridi­ BLS students are doing this b et­ two only accepted Jews. Ther Though it has been over 50 publishing controversial articles culing students and fellow col­ ter tha n students at most other w ere also the Woman's Law years since Justice Multer grad­ in Justinian. Both were contrib­ league. Dean Lisle's plans to law schools in New York." Club of St. Lawrence University uated from BLS, he still h as utors to the pape r. While neith­ retire were reported in the No­ Judge Glasser feels that BLS and two sororities - Iota Alpha fond memories of it. "The er was reinstated into the law vember 10, 1975 issue. The up­ will continue to prosper as it Pi and Phi Delta Delta. friendships that I made there school, one was permitted to coming change of Deanship pre­ has since his first association Justice Multer's closest friends were lasting friendships both take the Bar Examination after cipitated another headline: On with the school. "I hope that it were from Iota Theta, and that with the faculty and the studen t fulfilling a service requirement September 7, 1976 Justinian will, in the not too distant fut­ fraternity provided his social body. But the thing that stands with a law firm. He passed and carried a story about the for­ ure, take its proper place in the life at the school. "The law fra­ out as most enjoyable was the is now a practicing attorney. mation of a Decanal Search minds of the legal community, ternity had its own library ... recreation we engaged in oc­ The October 3, 1973 issue re­ Committee to choose a new considering the accomplishments a meager one, but it still was a casionally at the various parties, ported the addition of Ramsey Dean. On November 23, 1976 of its graduates, the quality of library. We actually gathered with the receptions or the Clark to the BLS faculty. The more dissension was revealed its education and its fulfillment there and studied and exchang­ dances which were very for­ May 13, 1974 issue reported the with the story of a Minority Re­ of the standards of a fine legal ed ideas about the work we mal - white tie and tails." formation of an investigatory port on enrollment (blasting education."

https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian/vol1977/iss1/1 6 ,

et al.: The Justinian

Tuesday, March 29, 1977 J US TI N IA N Page Seven Jerome Prince: Dean, Professor, Author, Friend (Continued frolll Page 4) came in. He looked them over and less until he knows every- "In 1953 Judge Carswell died wholly irrational people. Stu- school I took the bar exam in and he said, 'From now on, thing about nothing.' and I became Dean. As I saw dents demanded that they be June. At that time the bar ex­ you're going to do a chapter, and "Now I'm often cited in evi- my function over the years, I given credit without any exams. amination consisted of two I'll criticize, and I'll do a chap- dence cases. When the law re- had to rebuild the school from The reactions were absolutely parts, like they have today, only tel', and you'll criticize.' S o view was first established, it scratch with almost no money, extreme for a law school, ut­ you could pass each one sep­ that's what we did. I worked was in 1932, and I was on the to rebuild the faculty, rebuild terly surprising, utterly irra­ arately - fail one and pass the from nine till about nine at first staff. I wrote a note on the the standards and rebuild the tional. other or fail both as the case night. At the end of that, he said ex parte injunction, and that library. I had to rebuild the A c1ive in ABA may be. Since I was n umber to me that he was going to give note was republished in the reserve fund and then finally one in the clasf, editor-in-chief up teaching, and would I take New York Law Journal for two to come into this new building. "I've always been pretty ac­ of the law r eview, I never took on one course, as a part-time in- days, and that gave me the I was the one who bid for this tive, not only in law school, but a bar review course. I thought structor. So in 1934 I started greates t kick in the world. property, on behalf of the in writing and in other areas. I knew all the law. So I took teaching. I think I taught Bills ~ince then I've been cited and Board of Trustees. I went down I was in public service. I was the examination, and on the to the auction and bid 3/ 4 of a chief counsel to the New York secon d day, which is devoted million dollars for this property. State Joint Legislative Com­ to adjective law, I walked out It gave me an illusory sense of mittee on Court Reorganization of the building, and I was very wealth. We finally got it. (The for several years. I've been ap­ confident so far as the exam Supreme Court was here be­ pointed by Mayor Beame as was concerned, when this class­ fore.) Chairman of the New York City mate of mine came up to me " BLS used to have a graduate Conciliation and Appeals and said, 'What did you do on division. I was the one Who did Board. I've just been named the that pedigree question?' So I away with that. To have the senior consultant to the Law said, 'Oh, there was no pedigree right kind of a graduate di­ Revision Commission for the question. Was it one of the yes/ vision would cost an awful lot preparation of a code of evi­ no's? I can't remember all the of money. The kind of graduate dence, which I'm working on at yes/ no's.' And he said, 'No, it division that a school should this moment. And of course I've was an essay.' And I said, 'No, have is the kind that NYU has, been very active with the Amer­ there was no essay question a multitude of courses with ican Bar Association. I was a like that.' He got worried and concentrations in taxations and member of the committee that called over a few more f riends, other areas, and that would be prepared the standards binding and they said, 'Sure there was beyond our financial powers to on all the law schools, and a pedigree question.' I asked do, and to have a mediocre thereafter, I became a member them where it was, and they graduate division would serve of the accreditation committee, told me. I had failed to answer no useful purpose. I doubt if which accredits law schools and it. There were only five essay we'll ever have a graduate di­ reviews the accreditation. I am questions on the adjective part vision again. now a member of the standards and I failed to answer one of A Moral Commifmeni committee. the questions. This was number "Even though the evening di- "As part of my duties as a two, and I had misnumbered vision is al so a losing proposi- member of the committee that three, four and fi ve. It's ironic tion, financially, we have a kind travels around inspecting law that the question I omitted was of moral commitment to make schools for accreditation for the an evidence question. I'd made it possible for people who can't ABA, I get to inspect many law an appointment for the theater come to law school except by schools. I am convinced that Dean Jerome Prince as a yo ung professor. that night, but I was so shocked going in the evening, to get a BLS ranks in the upper 20-25 % . that I can't remember what I and Notes and Criminal Law. quoted so many times that the legal education. That's one of And if you look at the law saw. And I had to wait so long Th en I got into Contracts, as a novelty has long since worn off. the reasons why, when I was school from 1901, when there for the results. I said to myself, part-time instructor, while I "I was assistant to Dean Rich­ D ean, Associate Dean and Vice were five students meeting in 'I'm going to become a legend; was practicing. ardson and helped hold the law D ean, I held onto the evening the basement of Heffley's B usi­ no one's ever going to believe "Since I had this experience school together during the war di vision, even though we were ness School, up until today, it's that I left out a question.' But with Dean Richardson, on the years. New York L aw School op erating at a substantial defi­ made absolutely incredible pro­ when the results came in, for­ co ntracts revision, he asked me actl:ally suspended operations cit. It would change the charac­ gress. And if the same degree tunately I passed. if I would help him with the during the war years. During ter of the institution if we made of progress can be made in the "When I graduated from law evidence one. We used the same those years w e had 30 stu­ it just a day division. next 75 years, then we should school in 1933, the school of­ method we'd used with con- dents in the entire full-time day "BLS had a reputation for have a law school so great, so fered me a post as head of the tracts. It's very amusing in a division. being like a prep school for the prominent, as to challenge by publications department, which sense because here I was a rela­ "In 1903 the school had be- bar. I don't think that reputa­ all comparison any law school was kind of a mess at that time, tively young fellow, and I would come affiliated with s t. Law- Hon was really ever deserved. in this country. I'm very p roud and they offered me a small sal­ say to him, 'Dean, I really don't renee University, and in the As I say to my stUdents in my of the fact that I had an opp or­ ary, maybe $15 a week, plus a t; nderstand this, and if I don't early twenties it was complete­ evidence classes, 'If there were tunity to do something which scholarship to the graduate understand it, chances are the ly merged with the university, no bar exam, this course would few people have an opportunity sch ool. Within less than a year general reader won't understand so that it became just the law not be changed one bit.' to do, to help mold this place. I did everything I was supposed it.' department. In 1943 St. Law­ " Comparing NYU's increased "Generally speaking, an ef­ to do. I submitted my letter of "That was in 1936, and in rence was bedeviled by finan­ reputation over the years with fective teacher writes in water. resignation and decided to get September of 1936 I taught evi­ cial problems, and it decided to B L S, it's money. Vanderbilt Once he dies, his studen ts r e­ out and practice extensively dence for the first time. I had liquidate the law school, sell all was the man who made NYU. member him, but nobody else and that was that. Then at the always been interested in evi­ of its assets and use it for the They owned Mueller's S paghetti, graduation exercise, in 1934, dence, but it never occurred to rest of the university. Judge which was just sold for over does. For example, you have no when I got my Doctor's degree, me that I would be called upon Carswell, who later b ecame the $160 million. From that, the idea about the teachers who the Dean, Dea n Richardson, to teach it. second dean, was a member of school will get $61 million. I have been in this school since came up to the platform and the Board of Trustees of St. think we have a good reserve 1901. It's only because I've been Don't Specialize put his arm around me, and he Lawrence University and of now, which is important, but an administrator as well as a said, 'This is the first time in "You can't tell what you're the law school, and he vigor­ it's nothing compared to $61 teacher that it's likely that my the history of this law school going to concentrate on, that's ously opposed the liquidation. million. memory will be recalled over the years. I can imagine some that a student has received the a matter of chance. You may, As a result of that opposition, "I was Dean for 18 years, highest honors, ranked number for instance, find yourself in an BLS and the university decided from 1953 until 1971, when I first-year student, coming in 25 one in both the undergraduate office that handles only matri­ to separate amicably. retired. I grew weary. What years from now and seeing the and postgraduate divisions.' And monials and b ecome a matri­ "Richardson was still Dean really precipitated my retire­ Jerome Prince Moot Court R oom and saying, 'Who was this guy as I was leaving him, h e said, monial lawyer, or you may find at that time. We had to give ment was the student revolt of anyhow?'" 'I'll be talking to you.' yourself in an office that does St. Lawrence what money we 1969-70-71. That was a rough only malpractice and become a had in reserve and also pay a period. I had to deal with © Joyce Balaban David Author and Instructor malpractice lawyer. You can't certain sum of money. I think "He asked me if I would help really specialize in law school. about $75,000. S o we were a him r evise his contracts book, You can wet your feet in a sub­ new school with a building on and he offered me $50 a week. ject so at least you'll know 375 Pearl Street, but without a (Continued from Page 2) In 1934 that was enough money something about it, but when dime. We mortgaged the build­ the school would propel itself into uplifting the inequitable to support a family, so I took you get into a large law office, ing and scraped together some the job. It was going to be an they don't care that much. money and kept going. plight that minorities presently suffer vis-a-vis the law. It eight-week job. I made an ap­ They'll train you their own way. "In 1945 Dean Richardson is time for BLS to assume a role that fosters social change, pointment with him, and I was So specializing in law school died, and Judge Carswell be­ rather than to continue to hide behind a cloak of insufficient supposed to come to a room may turn out to be of no par­ came the Dean, and I was ap­ answers to vitally important issues. that had all the books. I ap­ ticular value unless you h a p ­ pointed Vice Dean and later, in The 75th anniversary of this school is thus a time to peared there, and he didn't pen to get a job in that fi eld. 1950, Associate Dean. Judge show up - one day, the next The thing to really learn in law Carswell was a justice of the look backward with pride and forward with concern. The day and the third day. I said school is how to learn any sub­ Appellate Division, so he direction BLS takes in the first year of its new dean will to myself that if I'm getting ject of law on your own. couldn't spend much time here, be crucial; such a large task cannot be adequately handled $50 a week, I'm not going to "One . . . disadvantage in be­ and therefore, I had the job of by one person. All components of the law school must be earn it by sitting around, so I ing an expert in a particular operating the place. I'd see utilized to insure the school moves steadily in the proper wen t ahead and started to re­ fi el d, as someone once said, is Judge Carswell for about 20 vise the book. I finished two this: 'An expert is a person who minutes each week, and we'd direction. chapters, and Dean Richardson knows more and more about less discuss the basic problems. We have come far in our first 75 years; we have far to go.

Published by BrooklynWorks, 1977 7 The Justinian, Vol. 1977 [1977], Iss. 1, Art. 1

Page Eight JUSTINIAN Tuesday, March 29, 1977

II,-'N/)."; I/() !'lt/(n~ UK. • " IU C '(AH.J) SO~ Lisle To Retire BLS at LSD

Historv From The JUSTiniAn Flies By JOEL MITOFSKY spring, had loaned a total of $194 and induction into the military faculty and was chaired by Pro- sue). Dean Prince ended nearly Depicted above are the high- to needy students. was imminent for many stu- fessor Samuel Hoffman. Two two decades as Dean of BLS lights of forty-four years of The January 5, 1940 issue dents. later issues commended the ac- with his resignation in 1971. headlines that have appeared in covel-ed the first student-faculty In the January 1956 issue, the complishments of BLS alumni (Reported in the February 16, the Justinian. The first issue basketball game which was won victory of the Moot Court Team and students. In December 1971 issue). The October pro­ was published on December 2, by the students by a score of in the Region Two competition 1966, Justinian reported the posal was rejected by the fac- 1931, while BLS was still af- 23-19. The December 9, 1940 is- of the American Bar Associa- election of Beatrice Judge as the ulty since a faculty committee filiated with St. Lawrence Uni- sue reported that Dean William tion National Competition was first woman New York &ate on student relations already ex­ versity. Its first Editor-in-Chief Payson Richardson, one of the reported. The BLS team defeat- Supreme Court Justice in the isted. Soon thereafter students was Milton E. Cantor and a men responsible for establishing ed teams from NYU, New York Second Departm nt. The May were permitted to sit on that year's subscription to the Jus- BLS, would be honored at a Law School, and St. John's to 13, 1970 issue reported that a committee in equal numbers tinian cost $1.00. The earliest dinner commemorating the for- advance to the Nationals, where senior student, Donald Halperin with faculty. The February res­ headline shown, announcing the tieth anniversary of the law the University of Chicago was challenging the incumbent ignation by Prince, however, election of Jerome Prince as school. The dinner was organ- proved too strong an opponent. (who had regular organization was accepted by the Board of Editor of Law Review, appeared ized by a committee chaired by In November 1960, Justinian su pport) for a seat in the State Trustees. A poll taken at that on June 8, 1933. Following is a former Chief Judge Crane of reported that it had been Senate. Halperin won the elec- time indicated that Ramsey brief description of the stories the New York Court of Ap- awarded first prize in the Amer- tion the following September Clark was the students' choice b ehind many of the above head- peals. On April 20, 1942, Jus- ican Law Student Association's and still holds that seat. for the deanship. However, Clark lines: timan described an accelerated annual national competition for The turbulence of the early declined to consider the position On October 15, 1937, Justinian curriculum option devised to law school newspapers for the 1970's produced headlines such and on November 8, 1971 Jus­ reported that the American Bar enable students to complete the 1959-1960 academic year. as "Student-Faculty Senate tinian reported that Raymond E. Association had provisionally three year full time program in The October 29, 1965 issue r e- Proposed to Decide Issues." The Lisle had been appoiI,ted in­ approved BLS for admission at two years and the four year ported on the formation of a newspaper reported on an SBA terim Dean, a position he is a m eeting in Kansas City earlier part-time program in three committee to revise New York resolution that began, "Where- to hold until late 1977. On Oc­ that year. On April 10, 1939 it years. The reason for the change State law affecting estates, pow- as there is a feeling of discon- tober 8, 1971 Justinian reported was reported that the Student is revealed in the date of the ers and trusts. This committee tent among students and fac- that students in Professor For- Aid ~ervice, created early that issue: World War II was raging was comprised entirely of BLS ulty ..." (October 13, 1970 is- (Continued on Page 6)

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