San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial
Honorees
A memorial directory honoring deceased judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who advanced criminal justice in San Diego County.
Paul Edward Bell
1945-1997
On July 30, 1997, Paul Edward Bell, the assistant director of Appellate Defenders, Inc., passed away after a long battle with lymphoma. Paul was born on March 29, 1945. He graduated from Seattle University in 1967 with a degree in political science and then graduated from UCLA School of Law. He started his career as an Orange County Public Defender, then worked as a research attorney with the San Bernardino Court of Appeal. In 1974, Paul became a staff member of Appellate Defenders, Inc. (which had been founded in 1972 to handle appeals in San Diego). He was named assistant director in 1979 and remained in that position until his death. Paul was instrumental in getting the current appellate project system off the ground in 1983 and in expanding ADI’s responsibilities to the entire Fourth Appellate District.
In 1995, Paul served as the chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Appellate Court Committee. He was also honored with the Warhorse Award of the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association.
Paul argued many Court of Appeal cases. He appeared before the California Supreme Court on six occasions, posting an impressive five victories. Paul’s work at Appellate Defenders changed the face of criminal appellate law by affecting changes in delinquency, juvenile dependency, welfare law, no-issue cases, and sentencing.
The board of directors of Appellate Defenders, Inc., has honored Paul. The Paul Bell Award is presented annually at the Defender Dinner to an attorney who has demonstrated excellence in the representation of the indigent accused on appeal. The Paul Bell Memorial Fellowship is awarded annually to newer attorneys in recognition of Paul’s dedication to indigent appellate defense, and his well known interest in the development of promising appellate attorneys.
The law was not an intellectual abstraction to Paul, nor simply a means of making a living. As he told his wife Dianne early in their relationship, “I don’t care if I don’t make a lot of money. I want to help people.” He cared about helping the little guy, and it showed in the way he dealt with every case and every client; as if they were the most special one of his career. Paul should be remembered for his prodigious knowledge of the law, for his dedication to his family, clients, and community, and for his wonderful smile.