Paul Bell, the assistant executive director of ADI from 1979 to 1997, was born on March 29, 1945. He graduated from Seattle University in 1967 with a degree in political science and received his law degree from UCLA Law School in 1970. He started his career as an Orange County Public Defender and went on to work as a research attorney with the San Bernardino Court of Appeal. In 1974, when the office was barely one year old, Paul became a staff member of Appellate Defenders, Inc. His ascension to the assistant director position in 1979 was a “natural,”given his intellect, accomplishments, leadership, and unstinting commitment to our work. Paul died on July 30, 1997.

Paul’s life was made up of great loves – love of his family, love of his church, love of his career in the law and his career “home” at ADI, and love for an enormous range of human actives – scouting, trains, hiking, country music. He loved his career in the law and was very good at it. He had an amazing way of writing complicated arguments simply and understandably. Paul could often come up with a fresh approach to a problem that had stumped everyone else. He had an amazing store of information: ask him a question about almost anything, and you were likely to get not only an answer, but an epic.

He handled hundreds of cases and worked on countless projects from writing guidebooks and manuals, to promoting employee benefits, organizing volleyball and softball teams, developing new attorneys on the staff and panel, and holding the office up time and again when its very existence was threatened.

Paul argued before the California Supreme Court on six occasions, posting an impressive win record of five wins out of the six appearances. Paul’s work at Appellate Defenders changed the face of criminal appellate law, effecting changes in the areas of delinquency, juvenile dependency, welfare law, no-issue cases, and sentencing. One of the most notable was the case of People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436, which provided that criminal appellants were entitled to an independent review of the record by the appellate court when appointed counsel discerns no arguable issue. In 1995, Paul served as the chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Appellate Court Committee.

His passion for the law was surpassed only by his love for his family. Paul and his wife Dianne were married for 25 years. His two children Daniel and Andra carry on Paul’s commitment to excellence and humanity.

A poem written to honor Paul’s 20th anniversary with ADI, concluded:

“Sometimes, it is true, he’s a bit loquacious,
But he is always so kind and friendly and gracious,
That we couldn’t imagine this place at all
Without our dearly loved friend, Paul.”

It is still hard to imagine ADI without Paul. We speak his name often and reminisce over all the times we spent with him. His spirit lives on in almost tangible form, and his love for his friends and work endures

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