Boris Bittker
Encyclopedia
Boris I. Bittker was a prominent United States
legal academician. A professor at Yale Law School
, Bittker was a prolific author, writing many textbooks and over one hundred articles on tax law
.
Born in Rochester, New York
, Bittker attended Cornell University
('38) and Yale Law School ('41). After law school, Bittker clerk
ed for Judge Jerome Frank
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
. From 1942 to 43 Bittker worked as an attorney for the Lend-Lease Administration in Washington, D.C.
During the next two years Bittker fought and was wounded in World War II
, receiving a Purple Heart
. Returning from Europe, Bittker went back to government service, working for the Office of the Alien Property Custodian
.
Bittker reluctantly returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Professor in 1946. Eventually he gained tenure in 1951, became a Southmayd Professor in 1958, and Sterling Professor of Law in 1970. By the time Bittker retired from teaching in 1983 to pursue scholarship full time, his was one of the most recognizable names on the illustrious roster of Yale's faculty.
Bittker was also a dedicated environmentalist
, serving as a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council
.
Bittker was married to Anne (died on February 2, 1997) and had two children, Susan and Daniel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
legal academician. A professor at Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, Bittker was a prolific author, writing many textbooks and over one hundred articles on tax law
Tax law
Tax law is the codified system of laws that describes government levies on economic transactions, commonly called taxes.-Major issues:Primary taxation issues facing the governments world over include;* taxes on income and wealth...
.
Born in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Bittker attended Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
('38) and Yale Law School ('41). After law school, Bittker clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
ed for Judge Jerome Frank
Jerome Frank
Jerome New Frank was a legal philosopher who played a leading role in the legal realism movement and a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.-Biography:...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
. From 1942 to 43 Bittker worked as an attorney for the Lend-Lease Administration in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
During the next two years Bittker fought and was wounded in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, receiving a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Returning from Europe, Bittker went back to government service, working for the Office of the Alien Property Custodian
Alien Property Custodian
An Alien Property Custodian was an office within the Government of the United States during World War I and again during World War II, serving as a Custodian of Enemy Property to property that belonged to US enemies.-World War I:...
.
Bittker reluctantly returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Professor in 1946. Eventually he gained tenure in 1951, became a Southmayd Professor in 1958, and Sterling Professor of Law in 1970. By the time Bittker retired from teaching in 1983 to pursue scholarship full time, his was one of the most recognizable names on the illustrious roster of Yale's faculty.
Bittker was also a dedicated environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, serving as a trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council
Natural Resources Defense Council
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a New York City-based, non-profit, non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing...
.
Bittker was married to Anne (died on February 2, 1997) and had two children, Susan and Daniel.