Neighborhood remembers professor David Lieberman

Campus emeritus and beloved UC Berkeley Faculty of Law professor, David Lieberman, died in a mountaineering incident at Lassen Countrywide Park on Sept. 10.

Born in 1953, Lieberman retired this July right after serving as a member of Berkeley Regulation School’s Jurisprudence and Social Coverage/Authorized Research, or JSPLS, program given that 1984.

“For the a long time I was at Berkeley, David was a fantastic colleague in the Jurisprudence and Social Coverage Program,” mentioned New York College Legislation professor Jeremy Waldron in an email. “He was the greatest of citizens—cheerful and great-humored in his get the job done and a remarkable scholar in the spot of Bentham scientific studies and 18th and 19th century jurisprudence. It was a pleasure to be all-around him and to reward from his friendship and wisdom.”

In accordance to a assertion from JSPLS, Lieberman was a entire world-renowned qualified on Jeremy Bentham and the background of English constitutionalism.

The statement also noted his exceptional diplomatic capabilities.

According to campus emeritus professor Stephen Bundy, Lieberman “could make the lion lie down with the lamb, all though generating the lion experience powerful and the lamb safe.”

A lot of colleagues and former students also commented on Lieberman’s intelligence and humility.

UNSW Sydney professor Martin Krygier observed he was stunned by his “eloquence, erudition and also by his wit” upon initially assembly him in 1985.

“He was a great teacher who was adored by his learners,” claimed Dean of Berkeley Legislation Erwin Chemerinsky in an electronic mail. “And he was a great colleague who held lots of crucial positions on campus. We will immensely skip him.”

In accordance to campus professor Henry Hecht, Lieberman as soon as experienced a bike incident that left him paralyzed beneath the midsection. He eventually recovered, but colleagues structured to remain by his bedside 24/7 whilst he was in the ICU, a testament to how considerably they cherished him.

Hecht, who assisted manage the group, stated even during this striving time Lieberman was “funnier, wiser and far better spirited” than Hecht on his best working day.

Campus professor Eric Naiman reported in a assertion he was shocked at “how solicitous” Lieberman was to nurses and guests in the course of the ordeal, “as if they were the types to fret about.” He extra that Lieberman’s potential to locate humor in moments that would have designed some others bitter created him the “best of dad and mom and the warmest of close friends.”

A Padlet has been set up for any one who wishes to share their reminiscences of Lieberman. It also features suggestions from his family members on where intrigued functions could make donations in his name.

“The entire world is a considerably worse position without having David, but it is a much greater location, and my have daily life is so a great deal greater, for owning experienced him in it,” said former college student Megan Wachspress in a statement.

Get hold of Ratul Mangal at [email protected], and comply with him on Twitter at @mangalratul.