David Halperin

David J. Halperin

Research attorney for the California Judicial Council from 1974 to 1995, died in Berkeley on June 30, 2014 at the age of 85. Born in Chicago of Casriel Halperin, architect, and Fanny Bishkow, he graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology before obtaining an MBA at Columbia University, a JD at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and an LLM at Yale Law School. He practiced law in South Bend, Ind. and taught law at Chicago-Kent and at the University of Maine School of Law. In 1972 he became Regional Director of the National Center for State Courts, Atlanta, GA, helping restructure appellate court systems in Alabama and Florida. A pilot, David covered his territory most often in a small rented plane. In 1974 he joined the Administrative Office of the Courts (Judicial Council) in San Francisco as its specialist in appellate court procedure, internal operation practices, criminal law sentencing, and judicial retirement.
David was active in the Civil Rights movement, volunteering in 1964 and '65 for legal work in St. Augustine, FLA, with the Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee. In Maine, he was the principal writer of the Governor's Task Force Report and Legislation on Human Rights (1969, enacted 1971). Life-long, he offered his legal and writing skills pro bono to those who needed help.
In 1965 he married Joan Ungersma, then teaching French at the University of Chicago. Early on, they were a marching pair, first at Selma, Alabama, then at demonstrations against the war in Vietnam.
Besides his love of flying, David enjoyed theater. An amateur actor while lawyering in South Bend, he subscribed here to Magic Theater, ACT, Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theater and West Edge Opera.
Quietly courageous, he lately had Parkinson's disease as did his beloved sister Naomi Spigle, a gifted poet who predeceased him. David is survived by his wife Joan, his son Matthew, his daughter Ilana, and his sister's children: Judy, John, and Ken Spigle.
A memorial service will be held on July 20 at 2 PM. RSVP to djhmemorial@gmail.com for location information. Donations in David's memory can be made to Southern Poverty Law Center; Hebrew Free Loan Society; or Parkinson's Research Fund at UCSF.