Alan Morton Dershowitz is a prominent American lawyer, legal scholar, and media figure specializing in U.S. constitutional law and criminal law. He held a distinguished teaching position at Harvard Law School for nearly five decades, culminating in his appointment as the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law. Beyond academia, Dershowitz maintains a consistent presence in the media landscape as a commentator, analyst, and author, often engaging in high-profile legal cases and public debates. His career has been marked by both significant legal victories and controversies related to his legal arguments and political views.
September 1, 1938: Alan Dershowitz Born
Alan Dershowitz was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on September 1, 1938.
1952: First Job
At the age of 14, in 1952, Dershowitz started his first job at a deli factory in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
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1959: Brooklyn College Graduation
Dershowitz graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brooklyn College in 1959.
1959: Dershowitz Marries Sue Barlach
In 1959, Alan Dershowitz married Sue Barlach, whom he met at a Jewish summer camp.
1961: Birth of Elon Dershowitz
Elon Dershowitz, Alan Dershowitz's first son, was born in 1961.
1962: Yale Law School Graduation
Dershowitz graduated first in his class from Yale Law School with a Bachelor of Laws in 1962.
1962: Clerkship for Judge Bazelon
From 1962 to 1963, Dershowitz clerked for Chief Judge David L. Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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1963: Clerkship for Justice Goldberg
Dershowitz clerked for Justice Arthur Goldberg of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1963 to 1964.
1963: Memo Against Death Penalty
In 1963, as a law clerk, Dershowitz wrote a memo arguing against the death penalty, citing the Eighth Amendment.
1963: Birth of Jamin Dershowitz
Jamin Dershowitz, Alan Dershowitz's second son, was born in 1963.
1964: Begins at Harvard Law School
After his clerkships, Dershowitz began his career at Harvard Law School in 1964.
1964: Harvard Law Professor
Alan Dershowitz started as an assistant professor at Harvard Law School in 1964 and became a full professor in 1967.
1964: Dershowitz Joins Harvard Law School
In 1964, Alan Dershowitz began teaching at Harvard Law School as an assistant professor.
1967: De Facto Moratorium on Executions
A de facto moratorium on executions began in 1967, partly influenced by Dershowitz's earlier work against capital punishment.
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1967: Youngest Full Professor
In 1967, at age 28, Dershowitz became the youngest full professor in Harvard Law School's history.
1972: Furman v. Georgia
The Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia in 1972, which challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty, was influenced by Dershowitz's earlier advocacy.
1973: Dershowitz and Barlach Separate
Alan Dershowitz and Sue Barlach separated in 1973.
1976: Dershowitz and Barlach Divorce
Alan Dershowitz and Sue Barlach divorced in 1976. Dershowitz gained custody of their children.
1976: Harry Reems Case
In 1976, Dershowitz successfully appealed the obscenity conviction of Harry Reems, the actor from Deep Throat.
1976: Reems Appeal Victory
In 1976, Dershowitz won the appeal for Harry Reems, overturning his obscenity conviction.
1976: Gregg v. Georgia
The 1976 Gregg v. Georgia case upheld revised death penalty statutes, a legal development Dershowitz continued to criticize.
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1979: Dershowitz Named Guggenheim Fellow
In 1979, Alan Dershowitz was named a Guggenheim Fellow.
1980: Sunny von Bülow Case
Sunny von Bülow went into a coma in 1980. Her husband, Claus von Bülow was later charged with attempted murder, and represented by Dershowitz.
1983: Dershowitz Receives William O. Douglas First Amendment Award
In 1983, Dershowitz received the William O. Douglas First Amendment Award from the Anti-Defamation League.
December 31, 1983: Death of Sue Barlach
On December 31, 1983, Sue Barlach, Dershowitz's first wife, died.
1984: Von Bülow Appeal Victory
Dershowitz secured an overturned conviction for Claus von Bülow in 1984, who had been convicted of the attempted murder of his wife.
1985: "Reversal of Fortune" Published
Dershowitz published "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case" in 1985.
1985: "Reversal of Fortune" Publication
Dershowitz's book "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case" was published in 1985.
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1986: Dershowitz Marries Carolyn Cohen
Alan Dershowitz married Carolyn Cohen, a neuropsychologist, in 1986.
August 1989: Defamation Suit Against Cardinal Glemp
In August 1989, Dershowitz filed a defamation lawsuit against Cardinal Józef Glemp related to comments made about a protest by Rabbi Avi Weiss at Auschwitz.
1990: Film Adaptation
"Reversal of Fortune" was adapted into a film in 1990.
1990: Dershowitz Portrayed in "Reversal of Fortune"
Alan Dershowitz was portrayed by Ron Silver in the 1990 film "Reversal of Fortune."
1990: Birth of Ella Dershowitz
Ella Dershowitz, Alan Dershowitz's daughter, was born in 1990.
1990: "Reversal of Fortune" Film
The film adaptation of Dershowitz's book, "Reversal of Fortune," was released in 1990.
1991: "Chutzpah" Published
Dershowitz published "Chutzpah" in 1991.
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1991: "Chutzpah" Publication
Dershowitz wrote about the lawsuit against Cardinal Glemp in his 1991 book "Chutzpah".
1993: Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law
Dershowitz was named the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard in 1993.
1993: Dershowitz Becomes Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law
In 1993, Dershowitz was appointed the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.
1995: O.J. Simpson Trial
Dershowitz served as an appellate adviser in the O.J. Simpson trial in 1995.
1996: "Reasonable Doubts" Published
"Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice System and the O. J. Simpson Case" was published in 1996.
1996: "Reasonable Doubts" Published
Dershowitz published "Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice System and the O. J. Simpson Case" in 1996.
March 2002: Dershowitz Proposes Controversial Response to Palestinian Terrorism
In March 2002, Dershowitz published an article suggesting that Israel should preemptively destroy Palestinian villages used as bases for terrorist operations, drawing criticism and comparisons to Nazi tactics.
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2002: Dershowitz Criticizes Divestment Petition Signers
In 2002, Dershowitz publicly criticized Harvard and MIT faculty who signed a petition calling for divestment from companies selling arms to Israel, calling them antisemitic bigots.
2003: "The Case for Israel" Published
Dershowitz published "The Case for Israel" in 2003.
2003: Plagiarism Accusations and Investigation
Following the publication of "The Case for Israel" in 2003, Dershowitz faced accusations of plagiarism from Norman Finkelstein. An investigation by Harvard's president found no plagiarism.
2004: Rights from Wrongs Publication
In 2004, Dershowitz published "Rights from Wrongs: A Secular Theory of the Origins of Rights," where he discussed animal rights and the concept of speciesism.
January 2005: Dershowitz Claims Iranian Supreme Leader Wanted Nuclear Bombs
In his 2015 book, Dershowitz claimed that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, ordered the military to have nuclear bombs prepared by January 2005.
2005: Obama and Farrakhan Meeting
A photo emerged in 2018 of Obama and Farrakhan at a meeting in 2005.
2005: "The Case for Peace" Published
Dershowitz's book, "The Case for Peace," was published in 2005.
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March 2006: Dershowitz Criticizes Mearsheimer and Walt's "Israel Lobby" Paper
In March 2006, Alan Dershowitz publicly criticized a paper by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt on the Israel lobby's influence on U.S. foreign policy, calling the authors "liars" and "bigots" and alleging the paper's reliance on hate sites.
May 2006: Mearsheimer and Walt Respond to Dershowitz
In May 2006, Mearsheimer and Walt responded to Dershowitz's criticisms of their paper, denying the use of racist sources and challenging Dershowitz's lack of evidence.
July 2006: Defense of Israel in 2006 Lebanon Conflict
In July 2006, Alan Dershowitz publicly defended the actions of the Israel Defense Forces during the conflict in Lebanon, amidst international concern over civilian casualties. He argued that Israel aimed to minimize such casualties while Hezbollah aimed to maximize them.
October 2006: Lobbying Against Finkelstein's Tenure
In October 2006, Dershowitz lobbied against Norman Finkelstein's tenure application at DePaul University.
2006: Epstein Non-Prosecution Agreement
In 2006, Dershowitz helped negotiate a non-prosecution agreement for Jeffrey Epstein.
2006: Dershowitz Argues for Prosecution of Iranian President
In 2006, Dershowitz advocated for prosecuting Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad for incitement to genocide.
2006: Dershowitz Challenges Carter to Debate, Accuses Walker of Bigotry
In 2006, Dershowitz challenged Jimmy Carter to a debate regarding Carter's book on Palestine. He also accused Alice Walker of bigotry for refusing to have her work published in Israel.
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January 2007: Dershowitz Responds to Jimmy Carter at Brandeis
In January 2007, after Jimmy Carter declined to debate him, Dershowitz responded to Carter's remarks on Israel at Brandeis University, but only after Carter had left.
June 2007: Finkelstein Denied Tenure
Norman Finkelstein was denied tenure at DePaul University in June 2007.
November 2007: Dershowitz Awarded Soviet Jewry Freedom Award
Dershowitz was awarded the Soviet Jewry Freedom Award by the Russian Jewish Community Foundation in November 2007.
June 30, 2008: Epstein Sentencing
On June 30, 2008, Jeffrey Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison following a plea deal negotiated with Dershowitz's assistance.
2008: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
Dershowitz endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in 2008.
2008: Dershowitz Endorses Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama
In 2008, Dershowitz endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and later endorsed Barack Obama after he became the nominee.
2008: Lawsuit Filed Against Justice Department Regarding Epstein Plea Agreement
In 2008, a lawsuit was filed alleging that the Justice Department violated victims' rights in their plea agreement with Jeffrey Epstein. This lawsuit would later involve accusations against Dershowitz.
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2008: Sunny von Bülow's Death
Sunny von Bülow passed away in 2008.
April 2009: Dershowitz Debates US Policy on Israel
In April 2009, Dershowitz participated in the Doha Debates, arguing against the motion that the US should "get tough on Israel." His side lost the debate.
2009: Dershowitz's Track Record
By 2009, Alan Dershowitz had won 13 out of 15 murder and attempted murder cases as an appellate lawyer.
December 2011: Dershowitz Receives Menachem Begin Award of Honor
In December 2011, Dershowitz received the Menachem Begin Award of Honor.
2011: Dershowitz Consults for Assange
In 2011, Alan Dershowitz acted as a consultant for Julian Assange's legal team, arguing that Assange should be considered a journalist and that protecting him was necessary to uphold the First Amendment.
February 29, 2012: Dershowitz Supports Delisting MEK as Terrorist Organization
On February 29, 2012, Dershowitz filed an amicus brief to remove the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) from the US State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.
2012: Support for Obama's Reelection
Dershowitz strongly supported Barack Obama's reelection in 2012.
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2013: Dershowitz Retires from Harvard Law School
Alan Dershowitz retired from teaching at Harvard Law School in 2013.
2013: Retirement from Harvard
Dershowitz retired from Harvard Law School in 2013.
December 30, 2014: Giuffre Accuses Dershowitz of Sexual Misconduct
On December 30, 2014, Virginia Giuffre filed court documents alleging that Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficked her to several individuals, including Alan Dershowitz, and that Dershowitz witnessed the abuse of other minors.
January 2015: Dershowitz Denies Allegations and Sues for Defamation
In January 2015, Dershowitz denied Giuffre's allegations and sued her lawyers, Bradley Edwards and Paul G. Cassell, for defamation.
April 2015: Allegations Against Dershowitz Removed from 2008 Lawsuit
In April 2015, a judge removed the allegations against Dershowitz and Prince Andrew from the 2008 lawsuit related to Epstein's plea agreement.
2015: Dershowitz Faces Defamation Lawsuits and Countersues
Beginning in 2015, Dershowitz became embroiled in a series of defamation lawsuits and countersuits related to Giuffre's allegations of sexual misconduct.
2015: Dershowitz Publishes Book Against Iran Deal
Dershowitz published "The Case Against the Iran Deal" in 2015, criticizing the nuclear agreement with Iran.
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April 2016: Dershowitz Settles Defamation Lawsuit with Edwards and Cassell
In April 2016, Dershowitz reached a settlement with Edwards and Cassell in their defamation lawsuit.
October 2016: Dershowitz Criticizes Trump
During October 2016, Dershowitz publicly compared Trump unfavorably to Hillary Clinton regarding corruption and likelihood of continuing it if elected.
2016: Russian Meddling in the Election
Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election was a topic of much discussion, which Dershowitz commented on in January 2018.
2016: Portrayal in "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story"
In 2016, actor Evan Handler played the role of Alan Dershowitz in the television series "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story."
January 2018: Defense of Trump and Criticism of Russia Investigation
In January 2018, Dershowitz defended Trump against attacks on his mental fitness and obstruction of justice accusations. He criticized the Michael Flynn indictment and the concept of "collusion" but considered the alleged disclosure of classified information to Russia to be a serious charge.
January 2018: Dershowitz Questions Claims of Qatari Terrorism Funding
In January 2018, while advising a lobbyist working for Qatar, Dershowitz questioned claims that Qatar funds terrorist groups.
May 2018: Dershowitz Joins Weinstein's Legal Team
In May 2018, Alan Dershowitz joined Harvey Weinstein's legal team as a consultant, focusing on obtaining documents relevant to the sexual abuse allegations against Weinstein.
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June 2018: Critique of the ACLU
Dershowitz criticized the ACLU in June 2018 for becoming hyper-partisan and moving to the hard-left.
2018: "The Case Against Impeaching Trump" Published
Dershowitz published "The Case Against Impeaching Trump" in 2018.
2018: Harvey Weinstein Defense
Dershowitz was part of Harvey Weinstein's defense team in 2018.
2018: Criticism of Obama and Farrakhan Photo
In 2018, Dershowitz criticized Obama's past association with Louis Farrakhan.
February 2019: Judge Rules Prosecutors Violated Crime Victims Rights Act in Epstein Case
In February 2019, Judge Marra ruled that prosecutors had violated the Crime Victims Rights Act in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
April 2019: Giuffre Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Dershowitz in New York
In April 2019, Virginia Giuffre filed a new defamation lawsuit against Dershowitz in New York, reiterating her allegations and seeking punitive damages.
June 2019: Dershowitz Files Motions to Dismiss and Disqualify Lawyers
In June 2019, Dershowitz filed motions to dismiss Giuffre's lawsuit and disqualify David Boies's firm from representing her.
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November 2019: Dershowitz Countersues Giuffre and Accuses Boies of Suborning Perjury
In November 2019, Dershowitz countersued Giuffre and accused David Boies of pressuring Giuffre to provide false testimony, leading to a defamation lawsuit from Boies against Dershowitz.
2019: Dershowitz Appears in "No Safe Spaces" Documentary
Alan Dershowitz appeared as himself in the 2019 documentary "No Safe Spaces."
2019: Support for Biden
In 2019, Dershowitz expressed enthusiastic support for Joe Biden's presidential candidacy.
2019: Ongoing Litigation Between Giuffre and Dershowitz
Throughout 2019, Giuffre and Dershowitz were involved in ongoing defamation litigation against each other.
2019: "Guilt by Accusation" Published
"Guilt by Accusation: The Challenge of Proving Innocence in the Age of #MeToo" was published in 2019.
January 2020: Dershowitz Joins Trump's Impeachment Defense
In January 2020, Dershowitz joined President Trump's legal team during his impeachment trial. Dershowitz offered pro bono services, stating his motivation was to "defend the integrity of the constitution."
January 26, 2020: SNL Portrayal
On January 26, 2020, comedian Jon Lovitz portrayed Alan Dershowitz in a Saturday Night Live skit. In the skit, Dershowitz has a near-death experience and ends up encountering Jeffrey Epstein in hell.
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May 2020: Giuffre Repeats Allegations in Netflix Documentary, Dershowitz Responds
In May 2020, Giuffre reiterated her allegations against Dershowitz in the Netflix series "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich." Dershowitz denied her account and accused her of fabricating the story.
July 31, 2020: Dershowitz Denies Ever Meeting Giuffre
On July 31, 2020, Dershowitz publicly denied ever meeting or seeing Virginia Giuffre.
2020: Trump Impeachment Defense
Dershowitz was a member of President Donald Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.
2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden
Dershowitz endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic primaries.
May 2021: Dershowitz Sues Netflix and Documentary Producers
In May 2021, Dershowitz filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and the producers of "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich."
2021: Defense of Trump's Speech and Offer to Defend Him
In 2021, Dershowitz defended Trump's speech preceding the Capitol storming as constitutionally protected and offered to defend him in a trial.
2022: Dershowitz and Giuffre Settle Lawsuits
In 2022, Dershowitz and Giuffre settled their defamation lawsuits, with Giuffre acknowledging she may have mistakenly identified Dershowitz.
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February 2024: Dershowitz Signs Jewish Future Promise
In February 2024, Alan Dershowitz signed the Jewish Future Promise.
September 2024: Dershowitz Leaves Democratic Party
In September 2024, Dershowitz left the Democratic Party, becoming an Independent, citing concerns about "anti-Jewish" lawmakers and the nomination of Kamala Harris.
