OT: RIP Yale Kamisar
RIP to Prof. Yale Kamisar, longtime U. Mich law professor, known as the "father of Miranda rights". He was a professor at U Mich for about 40 years, and is most known for the legal thinking behind the Miranda case. When you hear "you have the right to remain silent" (hopefully, on a TV show, not in real life), you are hearing the influence of this very fine UM professor. He lived a long and meaningful life. Obit: here. Wiki: here.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:00 AM ^
Thanks for sharing. He had an awesome career, exemplifying the ‘leaders and best’ ideals.
February 5th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
He was the professor in my very first class in law school. I exited the class thinking, “well, you aren’t in Kansas anymore.” Legend back then had it that he had gone to a Halloween costume party dressed as Golda Meir, carrying two shopping bags of stuff as accessories. Quite a character. Entertaining and engaging in the classroom.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
Golda Meir, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee grad!
February 5th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
We used his textbook in my 1L class. I remember reading it and realizing I knew nothing.
February 5th, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
Even as an undergrad with no interest in the law, I’d heard of Prof. Kamisar. What an impressive career. Rest In Peace.
February 5th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
His memory will be a blessing. In 1995, during my last year of law school, I had the privilege of editing an article he wrote for the law review. I didn’t know what to expect when I first met with him about the article. I had never taken a class from him and he had a reputation as being imposing. His demeanor was consistent with that reputation — booming voice, dominated conversations, was often abrupt. I was a little anxious. He turned out to be an amazing person. We met in a seminar room, he had Zingerman’s sandwiches brought in, and he seemed genuinely interested in my opinions about what he could do better. He wasn’t looking for proofreading and line editing like just about every author in the law review. Even though he treated me more like a colleague than a student, he made it an educational experience for me and made me think about an area of law I had not focused on. A couple of years later, he gave me unsolicited support in a job application process even though I had never done more with him than edit his article. He made a difference in my life and I’m grateful to have known him. Rest in peace.
February 5th, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
RIP, Professor Kamisar. I have vague memories of using a textbook co-authored by him, many years ago.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
Prof Kamisar was my crim law professor. A real giant. and a personality to match. An opinionated, passionate professor and advocate, I remember he would discuss police movies, like Dirty Harry, with pure scorn. I remember vividly how he described a George Kennedy movie. Someone asks George Kennedy (playing the cop) where is your warrant? Kennedy lifts his foot and kicks in the door, as he says "There is my warrant!" Kamisar was appalled, to say the least. But he also had a great sense of humor too. RIP, Prof. Kamisar.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^
Prof. Kamisar was a laugh riot.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
Since this is a sports orient blog - he was a decent weekend tennis player and his sons played for the state title back in the end of the 1970s when Huron High and Kalamazoo Loy Norrix were among the powers in high school boys tennis.
(edited for typo)
February 5th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
I took 3 classes from Prof. Kamisar--criminal law, criminal procedure and constitutional law. He was challenging, argumentative, animated and never dull. HIs personal experience in the Miranda case, and in cases involving the separation of church and state set him apart from many of my more academic professors. He was also the co-author of the leading textbook on criminal procedure. After law school, he was engaging, interesting and fun to speak with. For 5 years I was an assistant prosecutor and because of him I was respectul (as some of my colleagues were not) of the criminal rights advances that Kamisar defended. Rest in peace, Yale, and thanks.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:18 PM ^
“Justice Murphy was a C student at M Law and Clarence Darrow failed out, there’s still hope for you [insert law student’s last name]” — was a quip of Yale’s. My name was inserted there in the Fall of ‘88 when I was 1L at M Law.
Yale was in all ways an original, master of the Socratic method which he used to great effect, striking fear which he’d sometimes cut w/a uproariously funny quip, other times forcing deep thought, challenging foundational thinking. He was also the first person who ever really forced me to think about the deep vestiges of racism in American law, especially in application of the death penalty. To an audience of future corporate lawyers and business leaders, he supplicated himself, begging all to represent a death penalty defendant at some point in their career.
I’ve done it twice Yale, and you were there w/me in spirit. No question he’s been the most influential person in my legal life.
M BS ‘88, M Law ‘91
February 5th, 2022 at 12:45 PM ^
Yale was also a huge M football fan. In the early ‘80s Duke Law offered him a big bag of cash to lure him away from M Law. Reportedly he took it to the M Law dean and said he’ll stay on one condition, season tickets on the 50.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^
I grew up knowing his family living a few houses away. A wild passion-filled family on all fronts. I can't imagine Yale and the Socratic Method aimed at a student who wasn't ready for it. I loved the guy. RIP Yale K.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:14 PM ^
'91 as well; summer starter!
February 5th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
There’s another ‘91 summer starter in PDX, a good friend, and another member of my section too!
If you caught Sam Webb’s very entertaining interview a few months back w/Coach Pam, she’s also ‘91.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:30 PM ^
I got that treatment from Prof. Kamisar in fall of 1978. He was never dull.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^
“He graduated from New York University, where he was a member of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Kamisar commanded an assault platoon in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953, fighting at the famous T-bone Hill.”
IOW, put his life on the line in service of the ideals he tirelessly worked to protect for the rest of his life.
February 7th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^
I had Kamisar for First Amendment. He was larger than life. The story in his NYT obit about the Korean War and T-bone Hill blew me away. I had no idea.
February 5th, 2022 at 12:39 PM ^
Amazing career and legal scholar. Outstanding Law School Professor. Had the privilege of taking Criminal Procedure from him a long time ago. Yes, he could be very funny. I still remember a class discussion where he thought a bit of a debate had run a bit long and he said with good humor " Well, it's my show !" and moved on.
There was a reception for him in San Diego about 16 years ago as he came out to visit USD and "work on his tennis" game where Coach Harbaugh (who was coaching USD at the time). came to speak about him. Professor Kamisar rocked. RIP, and thank you sir.
February 5th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
Took his crim pro class more than twenty years ago. His memory will be a blessing for so many of us. Rest in peace, professor.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
RIP; was one of my 1L law professors. Great prof and good guy.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^
I never met Yale but his son was one of my tennis coaches. Super nice guy with the funkiest spin serve that you’ve ever seen. Even as a junior high school student I knew that my coach’s dad was a big deal.
February 5th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
Don’t turn around
Yale Kamisar’s in town.
Seriously though, R.I.P. Professor Kamisar.
February 5th, 2022 at 3:11 PM ^
Probably very few lawyers who did not use his textbooks. Great man who did a lot to advance constitutional rights in our country.
February 5th, 2022 at 5:40 PM ^
My Crim Pro professor at MLS. Feisty guy. A fighter. Champion of human dignity.
February 5th, 2022 at 11:01 PM ^
My crim law professor as well. What a great professor and fun class. He was smart, funny and made everyone really think about how the criminal justice system actually works and how it could be improved. He was one of a kind. MLS 1989
February 5th, 2022 at 11:14 PM ^
Took his Crim Pro class in the late 90s as a 1L. Was at first intimidating, then I realized his passion for the subject. I did not know about his Korean War experience; folks from that generation saw some things. That he changed the way we treat criminal defendants through his academic work is a remarkable life's work achievement. Hutchins Hall will miss him.