Michael Goldsmith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 6, 1951 |
| Died | (aged 58) |
| Cause of death | ALS |
| Citizenship | United States; Israel |
| Education | BS 1972; JD 1975 |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, law professor, ALS advocate |
| Employer | Brigham Young University |
| Known for | RICO law; Evidence textbook; extensive legal writings; ALS advocacy work |
| Title | Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law |
| Spouse | Carolyn Goldsmith |
| Awards | Michael Goldsmith Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award (2008); Professor of the Year 1985-1986; 1991-1992; 1998-1999; 2005-2006; 2007-2008; 2008-2009 |
Michael Goldsmith (March 6, 1951—November 1, 2009) was a law professor at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.
Michael Goldsmith was born March 6, 1951, in Tel Aviv, Israel[1] and immigrated to the United States of America with his family in June 1955. He attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, receiving a BS with a concentration in Industrial & Labor Relations and Political Science in 1972. In 1975, he obtained a J.D. degree from Cornell Law School, in the process earning the Order of the Coif.[2]
Following law school, Goldsmith spent one year clerking for United States District Judge Albert W. Coffrin in Burlington, Vermont. He spent a second year in Vermont, as deputy state's attorney in Chittenden County, before moving on to Washington, D.C., to serve as senior staff counsel to the House Select Committee on Assassinations from 1977 to 1979. He spent the following year as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia before turning to the career path for which he is most widely known, that of law professor. Goldsmith taught at Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1980 to 1983.
From 1983 to 1985, Goldsmith served as counsel to the New York State Organized Crime Task Force in White Plains, New York. He directed eavesdropping operations against various mob figures, culminating in his testimony against John Gotti in the late 1980s in a state case charging Gotti with conspiracy to commit murder. Gotti was acquitted because of jury tampering for which his associates were later successfully prosecuted.
Thereafter, Goldsmith returned to teaching, this time as professor of law at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.[3]
Goldsmith was admitted to the bar in Vermont in 1976, in New York in 1976, and in Utah in 1987.[4]
Building on his prior legal and teaching experience, in 1985 Goldsmith began teaching at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, ultimately terming as Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law. He taught courses on evidence, criminal procedure, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), trial advocacy, and complex criminal investigations.[2] Devoted to his students, Goldsmith continued to teach even after his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).[5]
Goldsmith had been voted "Best Professor of the Year" by the student body six times, in 1985-1986, 1991–1992, 1998–1999, 2005–2006, 2007–2008, and 2008-2009.[6] Given the unusual circumstance of a New York Jew teaching at the Mormon university's law school, rumors circulated for many years that Goldsmith was in the witness protection program,[7] a rumor which his prodigious publication record easily puts to rest.[8]
In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Goldsmith to the U.S. Sentencing Commission.[2][9] He served on the Commission until 1998,[10] serving as Vice-Chairman from 1995 to 1997.[2][9]
Goldsmith's Principles of Evidence (1984), originally co-authored with Irving Younger, is one of the most widely used Evidence textbooks in American law schools. Currently in its 7th edition, Principles of Evidence is published by Carolina Academic Press and is now co-authored by Irving Younger, Michael Goldsmith, David Sonenschein, Anthony J. Bocchino, and Jules Epstein.
Additionally, Goldsmith has written extensively on RICO, asset forfeiture, and electronic surveillance:[8]
In addition to extensive consulting and lecturing experience, Goldsmith has also written the following articles:
A nationally recognized expert in the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO),[11] Goldsmith studied under G. Robert Blakey while attending law school at Cornell University. Goldsmith has served as a consultant nationwide on RICO, commercial fraud litigation, electronic surveillance, and criminal defense. More recently, he has handled high-profile civil rights cases.
He was notably a member of the victorious defense team in the bribery case involving the Salt Lake City Olympics.[12]
In addition to Goldsmith's numerous Law Professor of the Year awards, he was also the first annual recipient of the Michael Goldsmith outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, bestowed by the organizers of the Orrin G. Hatch Distinguished Trial Lawyer Lecture Series in November 2008.[5]
Michael Goldsmith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in September 2006. With slower than normal neuromuscular decline, Goldsmith determined to become an ALS fundraising advocate.[13]
While attending a Baltimore Orioles fantasy baseball camp, Goldsmith realized that July 4, 2009, would mark the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's farewell speech at Yankee Stadium. In an article in Newsweek entitled "Batting for the Cure", Goldsmith called on Major League Baseball to make July 4, 2009, ALS-Lou Gehrig Day.[13] That article provoked a groundswell[1][14][15] and was ultimately read by Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball, who determined to implement Goldsmith's idea.[1]
On July 4, 2009, every Major League Baseball park in which a game was being played held on-field ceremonies commemorating Lou Gehrig's famous speech and raising awareness and funds in the fight against ALS.[16] In Yankee Stadium, following a half-hour ceremony which included recitation of portions of Lou Gehrig's speech by current Yankee players, Goldsmith himself threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[1][16][17] At the event, entitled MLB 4 ALS Awareness, all on-field personnel wore patches with Lou Gehrig's Number 4 on them.[1] Four major non-profit organizations teamed with Major League Baseball in the fight against ALS: The ALS Association, ALS TDI, Augie's Quest (the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS research initiative), and Project A.L.S.[18] Lou Gehrig's speech was read during the seventh inning stretch at every Major League Baseball park in which a game was being played on July 4, 2009.[18]
Goldsmith had two children, Austen Goldsmith (born 1984) and Jillian Goldsmith (born 1988).[1] Austen graduated from Cornell in 2007 with a BS in Applied Economics and Management and then worked for Sentry Technology in Philadelphia. He worked for Google in New York starting in 2011. He has been working for Amazon since 2017. Jillian graduated from Cornell and Teachers College, Columbia University, and is currently a teacher at the Bronx High School of Science.
Goldsmith resided in Heber City, Utah with his wife Carolyn Goldsmith.
Goldsmith was Jewish.[19]
Michael Goldsmith died in New York State on November 1, 2009. The cause of death was respiratory failure from ALS.[20]
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement following Goldsmith's death.[21] Major League Baseball dedicated Game 5 of the World Series to Michael Goldsmith; a spot aired during the seventh inning encouraging fans to support ALS charities.[22] Notice of his death ran in many newspapers, lauding particularly his skills as a law professor and his ALS advocacy work.
