Charles Halpern
Encyclopedia
Charles Halpern is a pioneer in the public interest law movement, a successful public interest entrepreneur, an innovator in legal education, a long-time meditation practitioner and advocate, and author of Making Waves and Riding the Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom http://www.charliehalpern.com
Halpern earned his Bachelor of Arts
in American history and literature from Harvard College
in 1961 and his Law degree from Yale Law School
in 1964.
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
.
Halpern then accepted an associate position with the D.C. law firm Arnold and Porter, which he held for four years. It was during his time with Arnold and Porter that Halpern found his calling in the public interest law movement, initially in the area of mental health. He was lead counsel in the case Rouse v. Cameron,373 F.2d 451 (D.C. Cir. 1966), which challenged the adequacy of treatment being provided to an individual confined in a mental hospital. Halpern was later counsel in Wyatt v. Aderholt,503 F.2d 1305 (5th Cir. 1974), which affirmed a Constitutional right to treatment for individuals civilly committed to state mental facilities.
in Washington D.C., the nation’s first public interest law firm. While with the Center he served as counsel on a number of important public interest cases including the seminal environmental cases concerning the construction of the Alaska Pipeline, see Wilderness Society v. Morton,479 F.2d 842 (D.C. Cir. 1973), and the banning of DDT, see Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. v. Ruckelshaus,439 F.2d 584 (D.C. Cir. 1971). His interest in mental health issues also ultimately led him to co-found the Mental Health Project, later renamed the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
, in 1971. In 1975 Halpern founded the Council for Public Interest Law, later renamed the Alliance for Justice
, and he subsequently served as a professor at Stanford Law School
and Georgetown University Law Center
and as a Senior Fellow at Yale Law School
.
), a law school with a public interest mission and an innovative curriculum.
, a $400 million grant-making foundation in New York City, a position he held from 1989-2000. Under his leadership the foundation developed and supported many innovative philanthropic initiatives, including Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers and the dialogues between the Dalai Lama and spiritual leaders of the American Jewish community.
The foundation launched a creative program in the area of contemplative practice, drawing primarily on the rich Buddhist heritage of contemplative understanding that had been introduced to the United States in the 1960s, supporting meditation retreats for environmentalists and social activists. Halpern also created the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society which began to infuse a contemplative dimension into law, journalism, and business. Prior to joining the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Halpern lectured throughout Asia on behalf of the United States Information Agency
regarding public interest law and new directions in legal education.
in 2000 with his wife Susan Halpern, author of The Etiquette of Illness. He is currently a Scholar-in-Residence at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, chairs the board of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, and consults non-profits organizations and foundations about integrating the practice of wisdom into their work. He also conducts meditation workshops for lawyers, judges and law students. Halpern’s first book, Making Waves and Riding the Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom, which explores using meditation to cultivate inner wisdom and foster mindful social activism, was released January 2008.
Halpern earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in American history and literature from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1961 and his Law degree from 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...
in 1964.
Education and employment
After finishing law school he clerked for two years with Judge George T. WashingtonGeorge Thomas Washington
George Thomas Washington was an American jurist who served as judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1949 to 1965.-Biography:...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit known informally as the D.C. Circuit, is the federal appellate court for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Appeals from the D.C. Circuit, as with all the U.S. Courts of Appeals, are heard on a...
.
Halpern then accepted an associate position with the D.C. law firm Arnold and Porter, which he held for four years. It was during his time with Arnold and Porter that Halpern found his calling in the public interest law movement, initially in the area of mental health. He was lead counsel in the case Rouse v. Cameron,373 F.2d 451 (D.C. Cir. 1966), which challenged the adequacy of treatment being provided to an individual confined in a mental hospital. Halpern was later counsel in Wyatt v. Aderholt,503 F.2d 1305 (5th Cir. 1974), which affirmed a Constitutional right to treatment for individuals civilly committed to state mental facilities.
Founding of Center for Law and Social Policy
In 1969, Halpern left Arnold and Porter and co-founded the Center for Law and Social PolicyCenter for Law and Social Policy
The Center for Law and Social Policy is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for policies aimed at improving the lives of low-income people.- History and work :...
in Washington D.C., the nation’s first public interest law firm. While with the Center he served as counsel on a number of important public interest cases including the seminal environmental cases concerning the construction of the Alaska Pipeline, see Wilderness Society v. Morton,479 F.2d 842 (D.C. Cir. 1973), and the banning of DDT, see Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. v. Ruckelshaus,439 F.2d 584 (D.C. Cir. 1971). His interest in mental health issues also ultimately led him to co-found the Mental Health Project, later renamed the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a national legal-advocacy organization representing people with mental disabilities in the USA. Originally known as The Mental Health Law Project, the Center was founded as a national public-interest organization in 1972 by a group of specialized...
, in 1971. In 1975 Halpern founded the Council for Public Interest Law, later renamed the Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice
Alliance for Justice is a national association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's and consumer advocacy organizations in the USA....
, and he subsequently served as a professor at Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
and Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
and as a Senior Fellow 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...
.
Deanship
In 1982 Halpern was named the founding dean of the City University of New York (CUNY) Law School at Queens College (City University of New York School of LawCity University of New York School of Law
CUNY School of Law is a law school in New York City, founded in 1983.In 1981, CUNY hired Charles Halpern to be its founding Dean. This law school was established as a public interest law school. The curriculum integrates clinical teaching methods with traditional areas of legal study.In Spring of...
), a law school with a public interest mission and an innovative curriculum.
President and CEO
Halpern later became the first President and CEO of the Nathan Cummings FoundationNathan Cummings Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings , founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation...
, a $400 million grant-making foundation in New York City, a position he held from 1989-2000. Under his leadership the foundation developed and supported many innovative philanthropic initiatives, including Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers and the dialogues between the Dalai Lama and spiritual leaders of the American Jewish community.
The foundation launched a creative program in the area of contemplative practice, drawing primarily on the rich Buddhist heritage of contemplative understanding that had been introduced to the United States in the 1960s, supporting meditation retreats for environmentalists and social activists. Halpern also created the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society which began to infuse a contemplative dimension into law, journalism, and business. Prior to joining the Nathan Cummings Foundation, Halpern lectured throughout Asia on behalf of the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
regarding public interest law and new directions in legal education.
Current occupation
Halpern has practiced meditation for the past 20 years with a variety of teachers. He moved to BerkeleyBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in 2000 with his wife Susan Halpern, author of The Etiquette of Illness. He is currently a Scholar-in-Residence at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, chairs the board of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, and consults non-profits organizations and foundations about integrating the practice of wisdom into their work. He also conducts meditation workshops for lawyers, judges and law students. Halpern’s first book, Making Waves and Riding the Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom, which explores using meditation to cultivate inner wisdom and foster mindful social activism, was released January 2008.