10-Second Bio – Berkeley Law Bulletin

Name: Richard Buxbaum

Title: Emeritus professor since 2011, but on partial teaching recall

Department: Faculty

When I started working here: July 1, 1961

What I do in ten words or so: I was the first director of the Earl Warren Legal Institute (1968-75) and second Dean of International and Area Studies, UCB (1991-98).

Something you don’t know about me: I was one of five defense counsel for the Free Speech Movement (FSM) defendants in 1965. I lost 773 cases in one blow, thus destroying a pretty good U.S. Army Defense Counsel record. But I couldn’t let that stand, so also was counsel for campus anti-Vietnam War and Third World Strike efforts, somewhat mitigating the won-loss balance.

One weird fact about the town I grew up in: The village of Bombay, NY (at the door to the St. Regis (now Akwesasne) Mohawk Indian Reservation on the St. Lawrence River), where we lived 1940-45 after emigrating from Germany, had a total population of 180 people. My and my brother’s chores-based allowance of 25 cents per week (each) was a major contribution to its economy, via Ursula Bean’s 10-cents a slice Pie Shop.

If I could have any job in the world (besides the one I have now) it would be: An art curator’s job and life seems pretty good, provided it included travel.

Moral for today’s problems: Someone has to continue these efforts but why should it be me.