Finding aid for the David Bernstein papers LSC.2126
Finding aid prepared by Karie Jenkins with assistance from Julie Graham, 2014; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline
Cubé after initial encoding by Julie Graham.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Finding aid last updated 2023 September 18.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: David Bernstein papers
Creator:
Bernstein, David L.
source:
Bernstein, David L.
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2126
Physical Description:
10.4 linear feet
(24 boxes and 1 carton)
Date (inclusive): 1964-1997
Abstract: From 1979 to 1997, David Bernstein served as investigator and legal researcher for the Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt defense team.
The collection consists of research, numerous court documents, transcripts, and Freedom of Information materials that were
accrued during the various court hearings. The bulk of the materials are facsimiles of original documents.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of David Bernstein, 2012.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], David Bernstein Papers (Collection 2126). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
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Biography/History
David L. Bernstein was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 26, 1948; he moved to Los Angeles at a young age. He graduated
from the University of California at Berkeley in 1971 and earned a JD from the University of La Verne College of Law in 1995.
After working for several years with environmental cleanup in Northern California, he returned to Los Angeles in the late
1970's and took a job as law clerk/investigator in the Law Offices of Goldin and Gordon. One of the partners, Martha Goldin,
had served as appellate counsel for former Black Panther Elmer Geronimo Pratt. In 1979 Bernstein was assigned to review and
index criminal appellate briefs and learned that there were ongoing habeas corpus proceedings seeking to overturn Pratt's
murder conviction, as well as litigation under the Freedom of Information Act to ascertain if the FBI's Counter Intelligence
Program had any role in the conviction. With the approval from Goldin and Gordon, Bernstein contacted Pratt's main counsel,
Stuart Hanlon and offered to join the efforts being made on Pratt's behalf.
From 1979 to 1997, Bernstein served as investigator and legal researcher for the Pratt defense team. In May of 1997, Pratt's
conviction was overturned and he was released after serving nearly 27 years in prison.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of files amassed by lawyer David L. Bernstein documenting his involvement pertaining to the court
case of People v. Pratt (former Black Panther Leader Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt) and proceedings seeking to overturn Pratt's
murder conviction, as well as litigation to ascertain if the FBI's Counter Intelligence Program had any role in the conviction.
Includes research, numerous court documents, transcripts, and Freedom of Information materials that were accrued during the
various court hearings. The bulk of the materials are facsimiles of original documents.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged in a loose chronological order.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pratt , Elmer Geronimo -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Bernstein, David L.
box 15
FBI summaries of Louise Manaco, Annette Becker, Christi Farlice, and Ronald Freeman
no dates
box 5
Counter intelligence: FBI and other documents binder (in 3 folders)
1964-1987
box 12
Julius Butler FBI documents binder
1967-1970
box 21
Tyrone binder (Tyrone Hutchinson and Tyrone LaVerne Bass)
1967-1971
box 15
FBI Black Panther Party binder
1968
box 15
Pratt case exhibits, memorandum, and correspondence
1968,1971,1972,1981
box 8
Pratt and related matters newspaper coverage binder (in 3 folders)
1968-1996
box 10
Congressional hearings and reports Black Panther Party (in 2 folders)
1969
box 12
David Bernstein memos to Julius Butler binder
1969-1980
box 18
FBI documents binder (in 3 folders)
1969
box 6
FBI electronic surveillance logs (in 2 folders)
1969 Mar-Sep
box 24
FBI electronic surveillance logs of the Black Panther Party binder (in 2 folders)
1969 Oct-Dec
General
Electronic surveillance logs of Black Panther Party in Los Angeles and Oakland, California.
box 18
Mary Fischer (GQ reporter) return of materials borrowed from Bernstein
1969-1972; 1996
box 7
Melvin (Cotton) Smith FBI reports, testimony, and federal documents binder (in 2 folders)
1969
box 19
United States v. Freed Sutherland binder
1969
box 10
Roger (Blue) Lewis witness file binder
1969-1985
box 12
1969 Shootout preliminary hearing - Reporter's Transcript of LAPD testimony
1970
box 20
FBI documents binder (in 2 folders)
1970
box 17
People v. Bryan shootout trial binder (folder 1 of 2)
1970s
box 18
People v. Bryan shootout trial binder (folder 2 of 2)
1970s
box 19
Tennis Court Murder proceedings (grand jury and pretrial motions) binder
1970-1972
box 20
FBI documents binder (in 2 folders)
1971
box 19
David Bernstein research binder
1971-1979
General
Binder originally labeled Miscellaneous docs re. anything and everything.
This is truly a miscellaneous.
General
Unorganized mixture of various information related to Pratt case.
box 24
David Bernstein general investigation (witnesses and important personages) binder (in 2 folders)
1971-1981
box 7
Habeas corpus DA filing, witness list, and Tennis Court Trial summaries of witness testimony
1972, 1996
box 23
Tennis Court Trial - Kalustian's notes
1972
box 10
Reporter's Transcript of Tennis Court Trial - defense and rebuttal witnesses, deliberation, new trial motion, and sentencing
binder (folder 1 of 2)
1972
box 11
Reporter's Transcript of Tennis Court Trial - defense and rebuttal witnesses, deliberation, new trial motion, and sentencing
binder (folder 2 of 2)
1972
box 7
Pratt FBI documents binder
1972-1973
box 3
Greg Goldin's files (Reporter)
ca. 1973
General note
Original Pratt Opening Brief on appeal from tennis court trial conviction, filed 1973.
box 19
FBI Prison Suit Discovery binder
1974-1980
box 15
FBI teletype regarding the stabbing of a prison guard
1975 Jan 28
box 12
Los Angeles Police Department binder
1975-1980
General
Binder labeled Los Angeles Police Department; II. McClellan Hearings (June 24, 1969); IV. Media & Miscellaneous. Inventory
lists as Misc. Docs. re. LAPD-CCS. We believe CCS is an acronym for Criminal Conspiracy Section.
General
Photocopies of articles and documents.
box 8
Reporter's Transcript of Tennis Court Trial - prosecution witness binder (folder 1 of 2)
ca. 1975
box 9
Reporter's Transcript of Tennis Court Trial - prosecution witness binder (folder 2 of 2)
ca. 1975
box 13
Deposition of Richard Wallace Held in Fonda v. Grey lawsuit
1976 Dec 20
box 4, box 5
Daniel Bernstein general investigation files
1979, 1983
box 24
Habeas corpus - proceedings, transcripts, and media binder
1979
box 23
Habeas corpus - District Attorney's return to petition binder
1979
box 14
Pratt habeas corpus - exhibits in support of petition
1979
box 16
David Bernstein general investigation binder (in 2 folders)
1980
box 14
Habeas corpus - Amici Curiae brief
1980
box 9
Habeas in California Court of Appeals - documents and David Bernstein research binder (in 2 folders)
1980
box 15
Habeas corpus - court's opinion
1980
General
In Re. Pratt; 112 Cal.App.3d 795.
box 13
Habeas corpus - Pratt's supplemental submissions
1980
box 15
Habeas corpus - summary of interviews of FBI agents
1980
box 17
FBI documents (released through the Freedom of Information Act) binder (in 2 folders)
1980
box 13
Tennis Court Trial - petitions for review to California Supreme Court
1980-1996
box 13
Amnesty International publications
1981
box 13
David Bernstein on Roger Aldee radio program - transcript
1981 Mar 31
box 17
David Bernstein general investigation binder (in 2 folders)
1981
box 14
Federal Habeas corpus - documents requested from FBI
1981
box 15
Federal habeas corpus - Swearingen and Mahoney (1 of 5 volumes of witness testimony)
1981, 1985
box 15
Federal habeas corpus - Mahoney, Alexander, Gardner, and Callahan (2 of 5 volumes of witness testimony)
1981, 1985
box 16
Federal habeas corpus - Held (3 of 5 volumes of witness testimony)
1981, 1985
box 16
Federal habeas corpus - Held, Bloeser, and Cleary testimony (4 of 5 volumes of witness testimony)
1981, 1985
box 16
Federal habeas corpus - closing arguments (5 of 5 volumes of witness testimony)
1981, 1985
box 6
Federal habeas corpus - Pratt V. McCarthy pleading and correspondence binder (in 2 folders)
1981
box 15
Pratt v. McCarthy opinion by Judge Wallace in Daily Appellate Report
1981 Jul 1
box 12
David Bernstein general investigation binder
1982
box 6
David Bernstein and Johnathan Lubell correspondence binder
1982
box 11
David Bernstein general investigation binder (in 2 folders)
1984
box 7
David Bernstein general investigation binder (folder 1 of 2)
1985-1991
box 8
David Bernstein general investigation binder (folder 2 of 2)
1985-1991
box 15
Last Black Panther (The) by Peter Ransley - unproduced screenplay
1986
box 14
Habeas corpus - exhibits in support of petition
1991
box 11
Centurion Ministries investigation and report binder
1993
box 22
Centurion Ministries report to Los Angeles District Attorney's Office binder
1993
box 13
Elmer G. Pratt - petition for writ of habeas corpus
1996
box 13
Habeas corpus - District Attorney interview of Roger Lewis
1996
box 12
Habeas corpus - District Attorney's interview with Melvin (Cotton) Smith
1996
box 13
Habeas corpus - District Attorney interviews, memorandum, and faxes
1996
box 9
Habeas corpus - discovery from Los Angeles District Attorney binder (in 2 folders)
1996
box 15
Habeas corpus - partial reporter's transcript
1996 Jul 15
box 23
Habeas corpus - Pratt Attorney's hand written notes regarding witness testimony (7 spiral notepads)
1996
box 22
Habeas corpus - reporter's transcripts of witness testimony binder
1996
box 23
Habeas corpus - reporter's transcripts of witness testimony binder
1996
box 1, box 2
Habeas corpus - Reporter's Transcript (in Box 1), testimony and some exhibits
1996-1997
Scope and Content
Habeas corpus Reporter's Transcript (in Box 1), testimony and some exhibits
box 23
Tennis Court Trial - Kalustian's trial notebook
1996
box 13
Email from Goldin to Bernstein
1997
box 12
In Re: Elmer Gerard Pratt - LA Weekly article by Greg Goldin - first draft
1997
box 25
Black Panther Party surveillance binder
1970-1971
Scope and Contents
Box also contains petition for Habeas Corpus and related documents (1984-1997).
