Professor Bernard L. Segal, one of the world’s great trial lawyers from the old school of silver-tongued orators, and a much beloved law professor, passed away Aug. 12. Bernie, as he was known by everyone he ever met, was my teacher, mentor, colleague and friend for nearly four decades. Although he faced increasingly difficult health problems in recent years, his death was unexpected, and I didn’t get to see him before the end. I’m writing this because I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye.
I first met Bernie in 1972, my first year of law school, when he was new to teaching. Bernie had come to Golden Gate from the East Coast after an illustrious career as a criminal defense attorney. He represented civil rights workers in the South and, as a public defender in Philadelphia, indigent people charged with crimes in the North. Golden Gate law school was an exciting place to be in the early ’70s. Most of our professors were more than just terrific teachers; they were also engaged community members. But Bernie Segal, long-haired, pipe smoking and charismatic, was the coolest of the cool. From the very first day of Bernie’s criminal law class, his pitch-perfect storytelling had us entranced. Entranced, but not submissive.
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