Alan Dershowitz

Alan Dershowitz
Professor Alan M. Dershowitz is Brooklyn native who has been called "the nation's most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer" and one of its "most distinguished defenders of individual rights," "the best-known criminal lawyer in the world," "the top lawyer of last resort," "America's most public Jewish defender" and "Israel's single most visible defender - the Jewish state's lead attorney in the court of public opinion." He is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Dershowitz, a graduate of Brooklyn College and Yale Law School, joined the Harvard Law School faculty at age 25 after clerking for Judge David Bazelon and Justice Arthur Goldberg. He has also published more than 100 articles in magazines and journals such as The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Nation, Commentary, Saturday Review, The Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal, and more than 300 of his articles have appeared in syndication in 50 national daily newspapers. Professor Dershowitz is the author of 27 fiction and non-fiction works with a worldwide audience. His most recent titles include "an exceptional, action packed book," The Trials of Zion, a novel which has been called "a thought-provoking page turner," Rights From Wrong, The Case For Israel, The Case For Peace, Blasphemy: How the Religious Right is Hijacking the Declaration of Independence and Preemption: A Knife that Cuts Both Ways, Finding Jefferson - A Lost Letter, A Remarkable Discovery, Shouting Fire and The First Amendment In An Age of Terrorism. In addition to his numerous law review articles and books about criminal and constitutional law, he has written, taught and lectured about history, philosophy, psychology, literature, mathematics, theology, music, sports - and even delicatessens. In 1983, the Anti-Defamation League of the B'nai B'rith presented him with the William O. Douglas First Amendment Award for his "compassionate eloquent leadership and persistent advocacy in the struggle for civil and human rights." In presenting the award, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel said: "If there had been a few people like Alan Dershowitz during the 1930s and 1940s, the history of European Jewry might have been different." Professor Dershowitz has been awarded the honorary doctor of laws degree by Yeshiva University, the Hebrew Union College, Brooklyn College, Syracuse University, Tel Aviv University, New York City College and Haifa University.

ARTICLES BY: Alan Dershowitz

November 2, 2012 3:56 pm

Following the Elections, Mideast Peace Negotiations Should Resume

I was invited to meet with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority just before he spoke to the General Assembly of the United Nations. I...

October 10, 2012 3:28 am

Clifton, New Jersey: Honoring an Anti-Semite?

At a time of increasing anti-Semitism in many parts of the world, it is deeply disturbing that the city of Clifton, N.J., — in the...

September 19, 2012 4:07 pm

Are Radical Imams Going to Redefine Freedom of Speech?

Now there are threats of violence directed against France for the publication of a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammad in violation of Islamic law. This...

September 11, 2012 12:10 pm

Terrorism and Palestinian Statehood

The U.N. should insist on a renunciation of violence and a negotiated peace with Israel before recognition. As the Palestinian Authority continues to seek recognition...

September 6, 2012 11:31 am

J’Acuse: Shame on Germany for Circumcision Ban

Why do countries with long histories of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry seem to care more about the so-called rights of young children not...

August 28, 2012 5:04 pm

President Obama Can Stop Iran

It is now become clear that neither diplomacy nor sanctions will halt the Iranian march toward nuclear weapons. Iran is today stronger ...

August 16, 2012 3:30 pm

J Street Makes an Attack on Iran More Likely

J Street, which calls itself "pro-Israel and pro-peace", is now making it more likely that Israel and/or the United States will have no choice but...

August 3, 2012 12:33 pm

How Liberal Democrats who Support Israel Might Think about the Election

Let me begin by categorically stating that no president has ever completely satisfied me with regard to his policies toward Israel. Every single president, Republican...

July 27, 2012 1:02 pm

No “Buyer’s Remorse” For Voting For Obama

Republicans are trying to woo away Jews who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, hoping they have experienced "buyer's remorse." I, for one, have experienced...

July 6, 2012 6:03 pm

Opinion: The National Jewish Democratic Council Doesn’t Speak for Me on Adelson

David Harris, the President of the National Jewish Democratic Council, has asked Jewish Democrats to sign a petition demanding that Mitt Romney and the rest...

June 27, 2012 4:33 pm

Iran Declares War Against the Jewish People

The Iranian government, long known for its Holocaust denial and anti-Zionism, has now declared war against the Jewish people. In a speech delivered...

June 20, 2012 9:59 am

Alice Walker’s Bigotry

Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Alice Walker, who has a long history of supporting terrorism against Israel, has now resorted to bigotry and censorship against Hebrew...

June 14, 2012 12:13 pm

J Street Undercuts Obama Policy on Iran

President Obama recently invited me to the Oval Office for a discussion about Iran. The President reiterated to me in private what he...

June 5, 2012 5:06 pm

Prosecutor Angela Corey Rants and Whines About My Criticism of Her

State Attorney Angela Corey, the prosecutor in the George Zimmerman case, recently called the Dean of Harvard Law School to complain about my criticism of...