14:02     04 November 2021    

Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, who helped defend former President Donald Trump in his first impeachment, gave an interview to Baku Tribune.

Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, who helped defend former President Donald Trump in his first impeachment, gave an interview to Baku Tribune. - Mr. Dershowitz, please tell us a little about yourself... - I am 83 years old and working harder than ever on behalf of human rights and the Constitution. I was born in Brooklyn, raised in a working-class family and went to Brooklyn College which was free. Then Yale Law School. Taught for 50 years at Harvard Law School. Am happily married to Carolyn Cohen a neuropsychologist, have three children and two grandchildren. - Why did you decide to become a lawyer? I had no choice. I was born arguing. All of my life I have been a defense attorney, even before I went to Law School. Having been brought up in the shadow of the Holocaust, I saw the need for civil liberties and zealous advocacy. - Are you satisfied with the current US justice system? - There is no current US system of justice. It may be among the best systems when compared to others, but it is unjust. Judges and prosecutors have too much power. Discrimination is rampant. Due process is being ignored. Thankfully our Constitution provides some protection, but not enough. - How are jews today integrated into the US judicial and legal system? When I was in Law School, Jews were excluded from major aspects of our legal system. There were restrictions and quotas. Today they are well integrated into all aspects of our legal system. But Zionists are beginning to experience discrimination in certain aspects of the law, as they are in society in general. - What difficulties do you often face during legal proceedings? - The biggest difficulty is that most people don’t appreciate the role of defense lawyers in defending the rights of their clients. Most judges are former prosecutors . The vast majority of Americans believe in justice “for me but not for thee.” I have been condemned and ostracized for defending unpopular clients. Many young lawyers today are afraid to become zealous defense lawyers. - What innovations, changes would you make to the US judicial legislation? - I would abolish elected judges and prosecutors and turn those positions into civil service career jobs. I would end life tenure for judges and impose term limits. I would hold judges and prosecutors accountable for their injustices. - As far as is known, you worked as a lawyer for former President Donald Trump. Tell us a little about this. Why did democrats try to impeach Trump? - Democrats tried to impeach Trump on unconstitutional grounds, namely, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. I defended the Constitution against these partisan efforts. I myself am a liberal democrat who twice voted against Donald Trump, but that did not influence my decision to defend him. Many Democrats condemned me for doing so. - As you know, Donald Trump pursued a peaceful policy towards Jews and constantly monitored the issue of combating anti-semitism. What has changed in the lives of American Jews under Biden? What can you tell us about Biden's policy on combating anti-semitism? - Both Presidents Trump and Biden have strongly opposed anti-Semitism. President Trump was somewhat more sympathetic to Israeli policies than is President Biden, but President Biden is strongly pro-Israel as well. Interviewed by Seymur Mammadov