Main content

A. Leo Levin Papers

Notifications

Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library [Contact Us]3460 Chestnut Street, Biddle Law Library, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3406

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
MSS.015
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library
Extent:
30 linear feet
Language Note:
Two series in this collection include materials in Hebrew: the Bar-Ilan University Series and the Emmanuel Feder File. Please consult these series for more information.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], in the A. Leo Levin Papers, MSS.015, Biddle Law Library, University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Date:
1935-1996 (inclusive)
Creator:
Levin, A. Leo
Form:
Faculty papers
Abstract:
A. Leo Levin, born in 1919 received his B.A. from Yeshiva University in 1939. He attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School and received his J.D. in 1942. Levin then took his first teaching job at the University of Iowa where he taught for two years before returning to his alma mater Penn Law School. Levin taught at Penn Law until his appointment as Director of the Federal Judicial Center in 1977. Levin participated in numerous legal professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools and the Order of the Coif. Levin also served on a number of high profile judiciary committees such as the Legislative Reapportionment Committee from 1971-1973, the Commission on Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System from 1973-1975, and the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group. Levin produced or contributed to a number of publications related to the law including Dispatch and Delay: A Field Study of Judicial Administration in Pennsylvania with Edward A. Woolley and Cases and Materials on Civil Procedure with James H. Chadbourn. Levin's interests were not limited solely to the law as evidenced by his active role in the Jewish Community serving on numerous boards of Jewish centric organizations such as the Jewish Exponent, a weekly newspaper published in Philadelphia, the Jewish Federation of Jewish Agencies and the Jewish Publication Society.

A. Leo Levin was born in New York in 1919. He received his B.A. from Yeshiva University in 1939 where he would later serve as a visiting law professor and administrator. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School and received his J.D. in 1942. After graduation, Levin served four years in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant prior to being named a University Fellow at Columbia Law School. Levin then took his first teaching job at the University of Iowa where he taught for two years before returning to his alma mater Penn Law School, first as an assistant law professor in 1949 and finally as a full professor in 1953. Levin taught at Penn Law until his appointment as Director of the Federal Judicial Center in 1977. Levin also spent time teaching at other university law schools often during summer sessions including UCLA, NYU, Duke, Northwestern, and Stanford.

Levin served on a number of high profile judiciary committees such as Chairman of the Legislative Reapportionment Committee from 1971-1973, Executive Director of the Commission on Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System from 1973-1975, Conference Coordinator for the Pound Conference from 1975-1976 and Reporter for the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group. Levin also produced or contributed to a number of publications related to the law including Dispatch and Delay: A Field Study of Judicial Administration in Pennsylvania and Cases and Materials on Civil Procedure.

Levin's interests were not limited solely to the law as evidenced by his active role in the Jewish Community. To that end, Levin served as president of both the Jewish Exponent, a weekly newspaper published in Philadelphia, and the Jewish Publication Society. He also served on the boards of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Philadelphia and Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

Levin married Doris Feder in 1947 with whom he had two sons.

The A. Leo Levin Papers, 1935-1996 consist of materials related to Levin's activities both as a legal professional and as a long time educator. The collection includes documents related to Levin's participation in professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools and the Order of the Coif as well as service on judicial committees such as the Legislative Reapportionment Commission from 1971 to 1973 and the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Task Force from 1989 to 1991. Nearly half of the collection is comprised of subject files which include but are not limited to course materials on compulsory arbitration and civil procedure and documents related to governance at the University of Pennsylvania, Yeshiva University, Bar-Ilan University, and Dropsie University.

    Missing Title
  1. Civil Justice Reform Act
  2. Pound Conference
  3. Jewish Publication Society
  4. Philadelphia Criminal Justice Task Force
  5. Legislative Reapportionment Commission
  6. Writings
  7. Speaking Engagements
  8. Order of the Coif
  9. Pennsylvania Standard Jury Instructions
  10. American Bar Association
  11. American Judicature Society
  12. Yeshiva University
  13. Bar-Ilan University
  14. Third Circuit Judicial Conference
  15. Commission on the Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System
  16. Federal Judicial Center
  17. The Jewish Exponent
  18. Bar Review Institute
  19. Emanuel Feder File
  20. Correspondence
  21. Subject Files

Received from Leo Levin, 1992-1996, with possible later accruals.

Processed by Jessica Lydon, February-April 2011.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Biddle Law Library
Finding Aid Author
Jessica Lydon and Hoang Tran
Finding Aid Date
2011
Access Restrictions

The archives reserves the right to restrict access to materials of sensitive nature. Please contact the department for further information.

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Collection Inventory

Biographical / Historical

In response to the Civil Justice Reform Act passed by Congress in 1990, advisory groups in all ninety-four federal districts were created in an effort to comprise reports to enact expense and delay reductions within the federal court system.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes and transcripts, agendas, draft reports, notes and related material to Leo Levin's participation as reporter for one the advisory groups.

Early Neutral Evaluation , 1982.
Box 1 Folder 1
The Court, Its Workload, & Its Resources , 1990-1991.
Box 1 Folder 2
Impact of Statutes , 1990-1991.
Box 1 Folder 3
Agenda , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 4
Alternative Dispute Resolution Generally , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 5-6
Asbestos Cases , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 7
Ballard , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 8
Budget , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 9
Complex Cases , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 10
Complex Litigation , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 11
Differentiated Case Management , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 12
Firm Trial Date , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 13
Index and Appendix , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 14
Intro , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 15
Kunz Superseded Drafts CJRA , 1991.
Box 1 Folder 16-17
Minutes, Transcripts, Meetings CJRA Advisory Group , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 1-5
Misc. Small Section , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 6
Narrative What We Did , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 7
Notes Taken at Meetings , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 8
Outline Final Report , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 9
Principal Causes , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 10
Hearings General , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 11
June 26 Hearing , 1991.
Box 2 Folder 12
Penultimate Drafts and Comments , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 1
Statements from Outside , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 2
Triumvirate Meetings , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 3
Videotape Recording , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 4
Service of Process , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 5
Cost & Delay Memo , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 6
Magistrates , 1991.
Box 3 Folder 7
Post Plan Reporting , 1991-1992.
Box 3 Folder 8
Minutes, Transcripts, Meetings CJRA Advisory Group , 1991-1995.
Box 3 Folder 9-10
Annual Report , 1992-1993.
Box 3 Folder 11-12
From AO-FJC , 1992-1993.
Box 4 Folder 1
Statistics , 1992-1933.
Box 4 Folder 2-3
Post Publication , 1993.
Box 4 Folder 4
Questionnaires Retired to Archives , 1993.
Box 4 Folder 5-8
Questionnaires , 1993.
Box 5 Folder 1
Judges' Response , 1993.
Box 5 Folder 2
Litigation CJRA Task Force , 1993.
Box 5 Folder 3
Eastern District of PA Mediation , 1993-1994.
Box 5 Folder 4
Choosing Model Plan .
Box 5 Folder 5
Conclusion .
Box 5 Folder 6

Biographical / Historical

Alternatively known as Roscoe Pound Revisited, this conference occurred in 1976 and commemorates the speech given by Nathan Roscoe Pound entitled 'The Causes of Popular Dissatisfaction with the Administration of Justice'. Pound's speech was presented at the national conference of the American Bar Association in 1906 and called for the improvement of court administration.

Scope and Contents

This series includes correspondence, panel presentation materials, and notes related to Levin's participation as conference coordinator for the Pound Conference and the follow-up task force as well as lists of conferee attendees and press releases.

Notes of Phone Conversations re Program , 1975.
Box 5 Folder 7
NSF Project , 1975.
Box 5 Folder 8
Planning Meeting Minutes, 1975.
Box 5 Folder 9
McGill, Bork, Finch , 1975.
Box 5 Folder 10
Background Papers , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 1
Bibliographic Notes , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 2
Financial ABA , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 3
General Correspondence , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 4
Preliminary Planning Documents , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 5
Program Drafts , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 6
Roscoe Pound Conference , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 7
Videotaping , 1975-1976 .
Box 6 Folder 8
Authors Galleys , 1976.
Box 6 Folder 10
Background Papers for use at first meeting , 1976.
Box 6 Folder 11
Background Papers for use at second meeting , 1976.
Box 6 Folder 12
Chief Justice Keynote Address , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 1
Conferees Preliminary Lists and Drafts , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 2
Conferees Invitations and Lists , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 3
Copyright Approvals , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 4
Distribution of Papers, etc. , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 5
Draft Panel I , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 6
Draft Panel II , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 6
Duplicate Galleys , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 8
Financial General , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 9
Innovative Techniques , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 10
Originals of Task Force Report , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 11
PR , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 12
Procedures re Processing Reservations , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 13
Program Participants , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 14
Responses , 1976.
Box 7 Folder 15
West Publishing Final Report , 1976-1977.
Box 7 Folder 16
Thank You Letters and Pound Set Distribution , 1976-1977.
Box 7 Folder 17
Supplemental Report on Task Force , 1976-1977.
Box 8 Folder 1
Text of Task Force Report , 1976-1977.
Box 8 Folder 2
Distribution Pound Report , 1977.
Box 8 Folder 3

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, membership data, sales and publication information, press releases, board and committee correspondence, meeting minutes and agendas related to the activities of Leo Levin at the Jewish Publication Society, a Jewish books publisher located in Philadelphia.

Jewish Publication Society , 1962-1974.
Box 8 Folder 4
Policy Committee , 1971-1972.
Box 8 Folder 5
By-Laws , 1972.
Box 8 Folder 6
Publication Committee , 1972-1973.
Box 8 Folder 7
Auerbach Policy Project , 1972-1976.
Box 8 Folder 8
Israel Office , 1974-1977.
Box 8 Folder 9
Personnel , 1974-1977.
Box 8 Folder 10
Biographical Dictionary , 1975.
Box 8 Folder 11
Administration , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 12
Bible , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 13
Campus Committee , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 14
Campus Program , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 15
Co-publications , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 16
Financial - general , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 17
Memberships, Mail Campaigns and Result Data , 1975-1976.
Box 8 Folder 18
Projective Publications , 1975-1976.
Box 9 Folder 1
Correspondence to JPS Executive Committee and Board , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 2
Editorial - General , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 3
General Correspondence , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 4
Investments , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 5
Jewish Publication Society Meetings, Agenda, etc. , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 6
Brochures, etc. , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 7
Operating Fund Reports , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 8
Juveniles , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 9
Press Releases , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 10
Publication Problems , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 11
Synagogues , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 12
Yerushalmi Correspondence , 1975-1977.
Box 9 Folder 13
Ajl Project , 1976.
Box 9 Folder 14
Appeals; Welfare Funds , 1976.
Box 9 Folder 15
Book Sales , 1976.
Box 9 Folder 16
Cramer Project , 1976.
Box 9 Folder 17
Pension Plan , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 1
Proposed Conference on Judaism , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 2
Real Estate Committee , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 3
Touche Ross Reports , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 4
Advertising Campaign , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 5
History, Background Material , 1976.
Box 10 Folder 6
Berman Project , 1976-1977.
Box 10 Folder 7
Commentary Project , 1976-1977.
Box 10 Folder 8
Annual Meeting , 1976-1977.
Box 10 Folder 9
Nominating Committee , 1976-1977.
Box 10 Folder 10
Promotion - general , 1976-1977.
Box 10 Folder 11
Next Membership Letter , 1977.
Box 10 Folder 12
Committees .
Box 10 Folder 13

Scope and Contents

Reports, correspondence and memoranda from a panel appointed by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Nix in 1989 to evaluate the reasons contributing to the backlog of cases in the criminal courts of Philadelphia.

Preliminary Reports , 1989.
Box 10 Folder 14-15
Task Force Correspondence, Clippings , 1989-1990.
Box 11 Folder 1-7
Philadelphia Criminal Justice Task Force Reports , 1989-1990.
Box 12 Folder 1
Task Force Memorandum , 1991.
Box 12 Folder 2

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, statistical information, district maps, action plans, and materials related to Senator Arlen Specter's opposition of the commission's recommendations for remapping of House and Senate districts in Pennsylvania in the early 1970s.

Reapportionment Computers Generally , 1970-1971.
Box 12 Folder 3
Protest Letters , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 4
Reapportionment Fels Project , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 5
Reapportionment Minutes , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 6
Revised Plan and Related Documents , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 7
Reapportionment Philadelphia Data , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 8
Preliminary Plan , 1971.
Box 12 Folder 9
Reapportionment Documents , 1971-1972.
Box 12 Folder 10
Reapportionment Notes on the Law , 1971-1972.
Box 12 Folder 11
Reapportionment Correspondence , 1971-1973.
Box 13 Folder 1
Reapportionment Court Litigation , 1971-1973.
Box 13 Folder 2-3\
Reapportionment Article , 1972-1973.
Box 13 Folder 4
Reapportionment , 1973-1974.
Box 13 Folder 5

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this series consists of notes and reference materials for chapters from the books Dispatch and Delay and Cases and Materials on Civil Procedure authored by Levin, but also includes book reviews, article drafts, correspondence, rewrites, and editorial notes.

Book Correspondence , 1952-1961.
Box 13 Folder 6-7
Line-up Article Correspondence Preliminary , 1957-1961 .
Box 14 Folder 1
Dr. Belkin Books , 1957-1962.
Box 14 Folder 2
Rule Making Article , 1958.
Box 14 Folder 3
Copyright Permission , 1961.
Box 14 Folder 4
Post Publication Correspondence D & D , 1961.
Box 14 Folder 5
Dispatch and Delay , 1961-1962.
Box 14 Folder 6
Pleadings Supplement , 1961-1962.
Box 14 Folder 7
Supplement Permissions , 1961-1963.
Box 14 Folder 8
Chadbourn - Levin , 1961-1968.
Box 14 Folder 9
Post Publication , 1961-1966.
Box 15 Folder 1
In Jewish Bookland , 1962.
Box 15 Folder 2
NJ Evidence General Correspondence , 1969-1971.
Box 15 Folder 3-4
Ch 1 Long Arm , 1970.
Box 15 Folder 5
Ch 2 Pleadings , 1970-1971.
Box 15 Folder 6
Ch 3 Discovery Scope , 1971.
Box 15 Folder 7
Non-Jury Criminal Article Correspondence , 1971-1972.
Box 15 Folder 8
Ch 6 Class Actions , 1971-1973.
Box 15 Folder 9
Chapter 3 Costs , 1971-1973.
Box 15 Folder 10
Ch 7 Jury Trials , 1971-1973.
Box 15 Folder 11
Compulsory Arbitration Article , 1971-1975.
Box 15 Folder 12
PA Evidence Book Correspondence , 1971-1976.
Box 15 Folder 13
Ch 1 Fraud & Force , 1972.
Box 15 Folder 14
Chapter 4 Pretrial , 1972.
Box 15 Folder 15
Impeaching Credibility Article , 1972.
Box 15 Folder 16
Shuchman Levin Correspondence , 1972-1973.
Box 15 Folder 17
Ch 3 Discovery , 1974.
Box 15 Folder 18
Civil Procedure 2nd. Ed. , 1974-1975.
Box 16 Folder 1
Creighton Law Review , 1975.
Box 16 Folder 2
Impeaching Credibility Article #2 , 1975.
Box 16 Folder 3
Chapter 1 Jurisdiction .
Box 16 Folder 4
Ch 6 Multi-party Litigation .
Box 16 Folder 5
Ch 7 Judgments Entry, Correction .
Box 16 Folder 6

Scope and Contents

Correspondence and notes relating to conference addresses, lecture series, guest speaking events, educational seminars, and panel moderation conducted by Leo Levin.

New Orleans LSU , 1963-1964.
Box 16 Folder 7
Louisiana State , 1969-1973.
Box 16 Folder 8
Speeches Correspondence General , 1969-1973.
Box 16 Folder 9
ATLA Advocacy Speech , 1970.
Box 16 Folder 10
Interest in LSU Lecture, Publication , 1971.
Box 16 Folder 11
Chicago American Zionist Federation Speech , 1972.
Box 16 Folder 12
Hershey Speech , 1972.
Box 16 Folder 13
Justice Lodge , 1975.
Box 16 Folder 14
Tau Epsilon Rho , 1975.
Box 16 Folder 15
ACTL Puerto Rico , 1975-1976.
Box 16 Folder 16
Young Lawyers Forum , 1975-1976.
Box 16 Folder 17
B'nai B'rith Lecture , 1976.
Box 16 Folder 18
BRI Evidence Seminar , 1976.
Box 16 Folder 19
Keneseth Israel , 1976.
Box 16 Folder 20
Hershey Hadassah , 1976-1977.
Box 16 Folder 21
Univ. of Connecticut Distinguished Visitors , 1976-1977.
Box 16 Folder 22
Aspen , 1988-1989.
Box 16 Folder 23
Contempt Lecture Correspondence, etc. , 1988-1989.
Box 17 Folder 1
Contempt Outline & Notes , 1988.
Box 17 Folder 2
Anglo American Exchange , 1989.
Box 17 Folder 3
Speech Correspondence , 1990-1995.
Box 17 Folder 4
American Law Institute , 1993.
Box 17 Folder 5
PA Trial Judges Ethics , 1993.
Box 17 Folder 6-7
Gert Joseph Lecture , 1995.
Box 17 Folder 8
Psychology speeches .
Box 17 Folder 9
Speech on Emerging Patterns , 1960.
Box 17 Folder 10

Scope and Contents

Materials in this series consist predominately of petitions, correspondence and background information from university law schools requesting inclusion as members of the honorary society, the Order of the Coif. Serving as Vice President from 1964-1967 and then President from 1967-1970 of the order, Levin along with other members of the executive committee made recommendations regarding approval or denial of the establishment of new chapters.

Order of the Coif , 1935-1971.
Box 17 Folder 11-12
Pennsylvania Standard Jury Instructions, 1969-1972.
Box 20 Folder 1-5 Box 19 Folder 7-12
Scope and Contents

Outlines, drafts, correspondence, and meeting minutes related to the creation of a standardized set of instructions to be communicated to juries during the civil and criminal court processes.

American Bar Association, 1956-1989.
Box 20 Folder 6-11 Box 21 Folder 1-9
Scope and Contents

This series comprised of correspondence, committee reports, conference proceedings and associated materials that document Levin's participation in American Bar Association activities.

American Judicature Society, 1984-1989.
Box 21 Folder 10-11 Box 22 Folder 1-7
Scope and Contents

Special committee meeting minutes, memoranda and correspondence related to Levin's tenure as President of the American Judicature Society, a national professional organization that promotes judicial administration through research and specialized programming.

Yeshiva University, 1962-1970.
Box 22 Box 8-12
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, university timeline and alumni association materials.

Bar-Ilan University, 1964-1980.
Box 22 Folder 13-14
Scope and Contents

This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, board minutes and related materials in conjunction with Levin's service to the board of Bar-Ilan University located in Israel.

Third Circuit Judicial Conference, 1975-1995.
Box 23 Folder 1-2 Box 22 Folder 15
Scope and Contents

This series contains conference pamphlets, program listings, panel discussion materials, agendas and correspondence related to the Third Circuit conferences held in 1975, 1987, and 1995 respectively.

Commission on the Revision of the Federal Court Appellate System, 1973-1976.
Box 23 Folder 3-10
Scope and Contents

Consists of correspondence, memoranda and notes related to the recommendations made for the improvement of structure and procedure of the federal appeals system.

Federal Judicial Center, 1977-1989.
Box 23 Folder 11-13 Box 24 Folder 1-3
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and memoranda related to Levin's term as director of the Federal Judicial Center whose responsibility was to conduct research on the administration of justice and court management as well as providing education and training for federal judges and court personnel.

The Jewish Exponent, 1938-1973.
Box 24 Folder 4-9
Scope and Contents

This series consists of correspondence and clippings of articles written by Leo Levin from the Philadelphia based weekly newspaper, the Jewish Exponent.

Bar Review Institute, 1972-1976.
Box 25 Folder 1-4
Scope and Contents

This series includes lecture notes, outlines and correspondence which relates to Levin's participation in reviewing bar examination questions, and answer keys for the Bar Review Institute as well as providing preparatory instruction.

Emanuel Feder File, 1938-1971.
Box 25 Folder 5-9
Scope and Contents

This series consists of materials related to the Feder Foundation and the Famous Knitwear Corporation. These include board minutes, correspondence, loan fund reports and a stockholders agreement.

Correspondence, 1961-1972.
Box 26 Folder 1-8 Box 27 Folder 1-3
Scope and Contents

The Correspondence series spans fifty years and inlcudes written communication to and from legal educators, judges, lawyers, and politicians such as Bernard Segal, former Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, Attorney General Griffin Bell, Nebraska Senator Roman Hruska.

Subject Files, 1942-1996.
Box 28-39
Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject.

Print, Suggest