Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Al Bendich

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Nationality
  
American

Role
  
Attorney

Name
  
Al Bendich

Occupation
  
lawyer

Education
  
B.A., J.D.


Al Bendich static01nytcomimages20150114usJPBENDICH1

Born
  
June 18, 1929 (
1929-06-18
)
New York City, New York

Died
  
January 5, 2015, Oakland, California, United States

Organization
  
American Civil Liberties Union

Al bendich tribute


Albert Morris Bendich (June 18, 1929 – January 5, 2015) was a civil rights attorney, noted for his roles in defending poet Allen Ginsberg and comedian Lenny Bruce against obscenity charges. Bendich was the ACLU of Northern California’s staff counsel from 1957-1960 and counsel to Saul Zaentz.

Contents

Al Bendich httpsstatic01nytcomimages20150114usJPB

A quote from his brief during the Howl prosecution: "Would there be any freedom of the press or speech if one must reduce his vocabulary to vapid and innocuous euphemisms? An author should be real in treating his subject and be allowed to express his thoughts and ideas in his own words. – Al Bendich (brief in People v. Ferlinghetti, 1957)

He was born in New York City. Bendich died after an apparent heart attack in 2015.

Cases Litigated

  • Allen Ginsberg's "Howl"
  • Lenny Bruce's comedy routine
  • Parrish v. Civil Service Commission (1967 Cal. Sup. Court)
  • References

    Al Bendich Wikipedia