The obituary of Bernard Segal that appeared in SFGate.com at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2FBA4V1KO5DR.DTL

Egelko, Bob

Golden Gate University School of Law: Digital Commons

Golden Gate University School of LawGGU Law Digital CommonsArticles About Faculty Faculty Scholarship8-18-2011Bernard Segal, longtime law school professor, diesBob EgelkoSan Francisco ChronicleFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/aboutfacultyPart of the Legal Biography CommonsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted forinclusion in Articles About Faculty by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contactjfischer@ggu.edu.Recommended CitationEgelko, Bob, "Bernard Segal, longtime law school professor, dies" (2011). Articles About Faculty. Paper 9.http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/aboutfaculty/9advertisement | your ad herehome of theSubscribe to the weekend ChronicleSign In | RegisterSearch SFGate Web Search by YAHOO! Businesses |  AdvancedBay Area & State Nation World Politics Crime Tech Obituaries Education Green Science Health Weird OpinionThursday, August 18, 20113150Golden Gate University ... / ... School of LawBernard Segal taught law at Golden Gate University for 39years. View Larger ImageMORE BAY AREA NEWSCrews searching for missing canoerin bay 08.18.11I-580 reopens but hotel standoffcontinues 08.18.11Mild Calif. fire season - but thingscould heat up 08.18.11Galleries 1-3 of 21Back toschoolspecial: UCBerkeleyThailand'stourists getphysical at...ElChupacabras:TracingMexico's...Bernard Segal, longtime law school professor, diesBob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPRINT E-MAIL COMMENTS (0)Bernard Segal, who spent 39years at Golden Gate Universityteaching future lawyers thelitigation skills he learneddefending civil rights and antiwarprotesters and an Army officer ina sensational murder case, diedFriday at his home in Tiburon. Hewas 81.Mr. Segal came to the SanFrancisco law school in 1972 and foundedand directed its litigation program, whichthe school plans to rename in his honor.Students described him as dedicated andcreative."He was always available, incredibly kindand generous with his time. There was somuch more to learn from him than youcould learn in a classroom," said WendyBemis-Albertson, a former student of Mr.Segal's who became his teaching assistant andcontinued to consult with him on cases after starting acivil law practice in San Francisco.Among his lessons, she said, were that "there are nolittle people," and that "the person who can tell thebest and clearest story is most likely to impress the jury. If you can't win, at least you geta good story from it."Amy Segal said her father's students told her "he taught them to believe in the systemand to use that system for justice."Mr. Segal was born in Philadelphia, the son of poor Polish immigrants. He attendedTemple University, where he was student body president and editor of the schoolnewspaper, was an Army officer in the Korean War and graduated from the Universityof Pennsylvania Law School in 1959.He worked as a public defender and private criminal defense lawyer in Philadelphia forthe next 12 years and also served as a volunteer attorney for the American Civil LibertiesUnion in Mississippi. His clients there included some of the Freedom Riders who rodeadvertisement | your ad hereMotorola Mobility Banned From SolicitingRival Offers to Google1.Gavin Newsom 'blindsided' as governornames jobs czar2.I-580 reopens but hotel standoff continues3.49ers stumbling at QB position4.Gwyneth Paltrow considers breast correctionsurgery5.BART admits halting cell service to stopprotests6.SF Giants' Matt Cain snaps 3-game losingstreak7.FROM OUR HOMEPAGEBatts wants more copsAfter the slaying of Carlos Nava, 3, Oakland PDchief says additional officers will have an effect. Comments & Replies (71)SHARE FONT | SIZE: Bernard Segal, longtime law school professor, dies http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/17/BA4V1KO...1 of 3 8/18/2011 9:08 AM0 3 15We Recommend More from Our PartnersSunday + a $15 gift cardFri-Sun + a $15 gift cardMon-Sun + a $25 gift card         Search Real Estate »buses into the South to challenge segregation.Mr. Segal also represented opponents of the Vietnam War. A former law partner, LouisNatali, recalled how Mr. Segal defended antiwar advocates who were charged withdesecrating the American flag because they wore a flag on their shirt, pants orbandanna."He would always be looking in stores that were selling stuff," like dishware with flagimages, "so he could buy it and bring it to court" to show jurors how common andinnocuous the displays were, Natali said. "He usually won on grounds of freedom ofexpression."Natali said Mr. Segal used courtroom theatrics to win some tough cases. In one robberycase, Natali recalled, the defendant claimed the alleged victim had lost money to him inthree-card monte and refused to pay. Mr. Segal handed a deck of cards to his client, whoput on a dazzling display for the judge and won an acquittal.His most prominent client was Jeffrey MacDonald, an Army doctor and former GreenBeret charged with murdering his pregnant wife and their two young daughters on aNorth Carolina military base in 1970.MacDonald, who suffered bruises and a stab wound, claimed four intruders hadattacked his family. Mr. Segal represented him in the military investigation, whichended without charges, and represented him again in a federal prosecution, whichended in MacDonald's conviction and life sentence in 1979.The case reached the Supreme Court and became the subject of the book and movie"Fatal Vision." MacDonald is still trying to win his freedom and recently was granted anew hearing in federal court. Mr. Segal kept in touch with him and "to the end of his lifebelieved that Jeff was innocent," Amy Segal said.She said her father continued practicing law until about 10 years ago and was teachingclasses until his health declined in April.Mr. Segal is survived by his children, Amy Segal of Richmond, Beth Segal of New YorkCity and Eric Segal of Gainesville, Fla.; and two grandchildren. Memorial plans arepending.E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com.This article appeared on page C - 6 of the San Francisco ChroniclePRINT E-MAILSubscribe to the San Francisco Chronicle and receiveaccess to the Chronicle for iPad App and a gift:Get ready to rock!Peter Hartlaub dives into the archive and findsmind-blowing Bay Area outdoor concert photos. Comments & Replies (18)Bay Area bornPics: Clint Eastwood was not only Carmel'smayor, he's from S.F. See who else is Bay Areanative.DANVILLE5 BR / 3.1 BA $1,129,000.00REAL ESTATESlash selling Tuscan-inspiredmansion in Beverly HillsThe shaggy-maned, top-hat-sportingguitarist known as Slash — late of Guns‘N’ Roses — is selling his Tuscan-inspiredmansion,CA snubbed on best places to live list for 2011Custom-built French estate on the market Blog: College town properties: BerkeleyCARS'Electric Avenue' in PortlandElectric car drivers will get a charge outof a block-long stretch in downtownPortland, and it may also help theSHAREAirline passenger: Depardieu urinated on planePolice: La. man decapitated disabled son, 7S.F. gay married couple loses immigration battleBART: 1st Amendment issues mount over cellshutdownPaul Muñiz dies - juvenile dependency lawexpertNYC rapper's burned body found in SUV parkedin NJThe V6 version of the Ford outperforms its Chevycounterpart (Consumer Reports)Police arrest 38-year-old man in News Corp probe(MarketWatch.com)6 worst home fixes for the money (BankRate.com)Media Digest (8/18/2011) Reuters, WSJ,NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg (MarketWatch.com)Unthinkable Poised to Happen on Wall Street.See Disturbing Charts. 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