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Alan Dershowitz

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Alan Dershowitz
Alan Dershowitz
source
NameAlan Dershowitz
CaptionDershowitz in 2014
Birth date1 September 1938
Birth placeBrooklyn, New York City, U.S.
EducationBrooklyn College (BA), Yale Law School (JD)
OccupationLawyer, legal scholar, author
SpouseSue Barlach (m. 1959; div. 1975), Carolyn Cohen (m. 1986)
PartyDemocratic

Alan Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist, and author known for his work in constitutional law and criminal defense. He gained prominence as a professor at Harvard Law School and for representing high-profile clients in controversial cases. A prolific media commentator, his political views and legal advocacy have frequently placed him at the center of public debate.

Early life and education

Born in Brooklyn to a Jewish family, he attended Yeshiva University High School for Boys before enrolling at Brooklyn College. He graduated first in his class and then attended Yale Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. After graduating first in his class from Yale in 1962, he clerked for Judge David L. Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then for Justice Arthur Goldberg of the Supreme Court of the United States.

He joined the faculty of Harvard Law School in 1964, becoming the youngest full professor of law in the institution's history. As a scholar, he focused on criminal law and constitutional civil liberties, authoring numerous legal texts and articles. He retired from Harvard in 2013 as the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Emeritus. Beyond academia, he maintained an active appellate practice, arguing before the Supreme Court of the United States and other federal courts.

Notable cases and clients

His defense work has involved many controversial figures. He served on the appellate legal team for Claus von Bülow, successfully overturning his conviction in a high-profile Rhode Island case. He provided legal counsel to Mike Tyson, O. J. Simpson, and Jeffrey Epstein, and later served on the defense team for Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial. He also represented the filmmaker Roman Polanski in his extradition fight and advocated for the release of the imprisoned broadcaster Julian Assange.

Political views and commentary

A self-described liberal Democrat and strong supporter of Israel, his commentary often defies easy political categorization. He is a staunch defender of First Amendment rights and civil liberties, while also advocating for a robust approach to national security. He has been a frequent commentator on networks like CNN and Fox News, and has authored opinion pieces for publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His book The Case for Israel was a bestseller.

Controversies and criticism

His association with clients like Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump has drawn significant scrutiny and condemnation from many legal peers and political commentators. His role in negotiating a controversial non-prosecution agreement for Epstein in 2008 has been extensively examined. During the Trump impeachment trial, his constitutional arguments were challenged by other scholars. He has also faced allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has vehemently denied and attributed to political motivations.

Personal life

He has been married twice; first to Sue Barlach, with whom he had a daughter, and later to Carolyn Cohen, a pediatric neuropsychologist, with whom he has two sons. He is a resident of Martha's Vineyard and maintains an apartment in Manhattan. An active public intellectual, he continues to write, lecture, and engage in legal debates.

Works and publications

He is the author of over forty fiction and non-fiction books. His notable works include Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film, Chutzpah, The Case for Israel, The Case for Peace, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. His more recent publications include Guilt by Accusation: The Challenge of Proving Innocence in the Age of #MeToo and The Case for Liberalism in an Age of Extremism.

Category:American lawyers Category:Harvard Law School faculty Category:American legal scholars