David Lionel Bazelon (1909–93) was a U.S. judge known for his progressive rulings on mental health law, civil rights, and criminal justice reform. Serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for over four decades, he shaped legal interpretations of psychiatric defenses and social justice.
Born in Superior, Wisconsin, Bazelon earned a Bachelor of Science in Law from Northwestern University (1931) and entered the Illinois bar (1932.) He worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (1935–46) before becoming Assistant Attorney General for the Public Lands Division (1946–47.) In 1949, President Harry S. Truman appointed him to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where he served as Chief Judge (1962–78.)
A pioneer in mental health law, Bazelon advocated for the least restrictive treatment for psychiatric patients, influencing due process protections. His work led to the establishment of the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, preserving his legacy.
His notable publication, Questioning Authority: Justice and Criminal Law (1987,) examines his judicial philosophy. He also contributed to legal scholarship through lectures and essays on law and psychiatry.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by David L. Bazelon
Money: A dream, a piece of paper on which is imprinted in invisible ink the dream of all the things it will buy, all the trinkets and all the power over others.
—David L. Bazelon
Topics: Money
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