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Al Bendich
Born (1929-06-18)June 18, 1929
New York City, New York
Died January 5, 2015(2015-01-05) (aged 85)
Education B.A.,M.A.,J.D.
Occupation lawyer
Organization American Civil Liberties Union
Spouse(s) Pamela Bendich
Children Jon Bendich, Nora Bendich, Bridget Bendich, Adrianne Bendich
Parent(s) Hyman Bendich, Anna Bendich

Albert Morris Bendich (June 18, 1929 – January 5, 2015) was a civil rights attorney, noted for his roles in defending poet Allen Ginsberg and comedian Lenny Bruce against obscenity charges. Bendich was the ACLU of Northern California's staff counsel from 1957 to 1960 and counsel to Saul Zaentz.

A quote from his brief during the Howl prosecution: "Would there be any freedom of the press or speech if one must reduce his vocabulary to vapid and innocuous euphemisms? An author should be real in treating his subject and be allowed to express his thoughts and ideas in his own words. – Al Bendich (brief in People v. Ferlinghetti, 1957)

He was born in New York City. Bendich died after an apparent heart attack in 2015.

Cases Litigated

  • Allen Ginsberg's "Howl"
  • Lenny Bruce's comedy routine
  • Parrish v. Civil Service Commission (1967 Cal. Sup. Court)
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