P. Browning Hoffman: The Legacy of an Idealist
During a tragically brief career, Browning Hoffman left a distinctive mark on the intellectual landscape of the field of law and psychiatry. His passion for the exploration of ideas, sensitivity to the perplexities of human behavior, and profound sense of public duty earned the admiration and respect of all who worked with him. I pay tribute here to Browning's intellectual contributions; in doing so, however, I do not want to paint a distorted portrait. We should not forget that Browning was a gentle and compassionate man. He was, after all, a clinician, and a good friend to his students as well as his colleagues. Although he was jealous of his time-as might well be expected of anyone who had two full-time jobs-Browning's door was always open to those who sought counseling and comfort.