Paul Marshall Brayman, 86, passed away on January 30, 2026, surrounded by family at home in Fennville, Michigan. A criminal defense lawyer with a heart of gold, Paul was widely respected across the legal community for his smarts, skills, compassion, and humanity.
Paul was born in Portland, Oregon, on January 15, 1940, the son of Marshall Brayman and Salina Alice Curtis. He grew up with his brother, Fred, moving between Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Oak Park.
Paul had a challenging upbringing, but his parents loved him and encouraged him to get a quality education. Paul attended Stanford University, served as an Arabic interpreter in the U.S. Army in Eritrea, and went on to attend the University of Illinois College of Law. Paul never forgot how fortunate he was to have had those opportunities.
After law school, Paul became a public defender in Chicago, work that shaped his understanding of the law and his commitment to it. He believed that everyone—regardless of the accusation or whether the world had already decided their guilt—deserved a vigorous defense. In private practice, Paul focused primarily on federal criminal defense, but succeeded in winning acquittals in state cases, including the 1978 Pontiac Prison Riot capital murder trial and the NATO 3 terrorism trial in 2014.
In recent years, Paul found his greatest professional joy in practicing alongside his son, Jonathan Marshall Brayman, also a criminal defense attorney in Chicago.
Paul was a man of deep and eclectic enthusiasms. He loved stories—told in song, movies, plays, or books—that found humor in darkness and humanity in flawed people. He loved Chicago's theatre scene and restaurants, road trips, golf, poker, bargains, and a good joke.
He is survived by his wife, Gail Merritt; his daughter, Corinne Evans (Andrew); his son, Jonathan Brayman (Robin); his stepchildren, Alison Gardner (Joseph), Niklas Terczak, and Mari Terczak (Erik Pennebaker); and his six grandchildren, Josh, Sam, Hazel, Annalise, Clark, and Grant (with whom Paul shared a birthday).
The family wishes to thank dedicated caregivers—Brandy, Tory, Elaine, and Hospice of Holland—who made it possible for him to die peacefully at home.
Paul had a long and full life. As he said, he got his money's worth. He will be missed.
Paul was born in Portland, Oregon, on January 15, 1940, the son of Marshall Brayman and Salina Alice Curtis. He grew up with his brother, Fred, moving between Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Oak Park.
Paul had a challenging upbringing, but his parents loved him and encouraged him to get a quality education. Paul attended Stanford University, served as an Arabic interpreter in the U.S. Army in Eritrea, and went on to attend the University of Illinois College of Law. Paul never forgot how fortunate he was to have had those opportunities.
After law school, Paul became a public defender in Chicago, work that shaped his understanding of the law and his commitment to it. He believed that everyone—regardless of the accusation or whether the world had already decided their guilt—deserved a vigorous defense. In private practice, Paul focused primarily on federal criminal defense, but succeeded in winning acquittals in state cases, including the 1978 Pontiac Prison Riot capital murder trial and the NATO 3 terrorism trial in 2014.
In recent years, Paul found his greatest professional joy in practicing alongside his son, Jonathan Marshall Brayman, also a criminal defense attorney in Chicago.
Paul was a man of deep and eclectic enthusiasms. He loved stories—told in song, movies, plays, or books—that found humor in darkness and humanity in flawed people. He loved Chicago's theatre scene and restaurants, road trips, golf, poker, bargains, and a good joke.
He is survived by his wife, Gail Merritt; his daughter, Corinne Evans (Andrew); his son, Jonathan Brayman (Robin); his stepchildren, Alison Gardner (Joseph), Niklas Terczak, and Mari Terczak (Erik Pennebaker); and his six grandchildren, Josh, Sam, Hazel, Annalise, Clark, and Grant (with whom Paul shared a birthday).
The family wishes to thank dedicated caregivers—Brandy, Tory, Elaine, and Hospice of Holland—who made it possible for him to die peacefully at home.
Paul had a long and full life. As he said, he got his money's worth. He will be missed.
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