Harvard Law School’s own Alan Dershowitz warns that elite legal education is abandoning principle in favor of political expediency, producing lawmakers more focused on winning than on justice.
At a Glance
- Dershowitz criticizes Harvard Law for prioritizing results over ethics
- Cites Schiff, Warren, and Raskin as products of this shift
- Warns against court-packing and erosion of constitutional norms
- Defends free speech amid rising censorship from academia and tech
- Calls for a return to foundational legal principles
Elite Law Schools Prioritize Politics Over Principle
In a recent appearance on Newsmax TV’s “The Record,” Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz expressed deep concern over the direction of elite legal education, particularly at his alma mater. He argued that institutions like Harvard Law School have shifted focus from teaching principles, neutrality, and ethics to a results-oriented approach aimed at immediate political gains. Dershowitz highlighted political figures such as Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Jamie Raskin as examples of this trend, suggesting that their education emphasized political expediency over enduring legal values.
Dershowitz warned that this shift leads to short-sighted actions, such as proposals for court-packing, which fail to consider long-term implications. He stated, “It just shows you these are such short-sighted, results-oriented, partisan, do it for me now people. They wouldn’t understand a point of principle if they fell over it.”
Watch more: Alan Dershowitz: Harvard Law School Doesn’t Focus on Principle
Defending Free Speech Amid Rising Censorship
In his latest book, “The Case Against the New Censorship,” Dershowitz challenges what he describes as a new wave of censors, encompassing big tech, progressives, and academic institutions. He draws parallels between these views and the broader polarization in U.S. politics, suggesting that such divisions were heightened during the Trump presidency and have persisted into the Biden administration.
Dershowitz criticizes modern academia, accusing it of failing to instill values of moral and principled decision-making, which he believes are crucial for maintaining constitutional liberties. He asserts that “places like Harvard Law School don’t emphasize principle, morality, and neutrality. It’s all about who wins today.”
A Call to Return to Foundational Values
Dershowitz defends free speech explicitly, distinguishing between speech that provokes and speech that constitutes criminal wrongdoing, a distinction he believes is increasingly blurred by the media and organizations like the ACLU. His defense of Trump during the first impeachment trial and his broader commentary serve as testaments to his commitment to these principles.
He fondly recalls the frameworks championed by historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, implying that these should remain central to the mission of educational institutions. As Dershowitz continues to question current norms, his words echo a persistent challenge to uphold traditions of free speech and due process.
