Alan Dershowitz criticizes Amy Wax sanctions, talks free speech at Penn Federalist Society event

Prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz spoke at Penn about the Israel-Hamas war, antisemitism, and free speech on college campuses — and criticized the University's treatment of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School professor Amy Wax.

The Nov. 14 event, in which Dershowitz was in conversation with Wharton professor Abraham Wyner, was hosted by the Penn Law Federalist Society chapter, JLaw — a pre-law society for Jewish students — and the Wharton Jewish Association of MBAs. The organizers also distributed free copies of Dershowitz's book, "The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies: And How to Refute Them with Truth" at the event. 

Dershowitz taught at Harvard Law School from 1964 to 2013, and was the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law for his final 20 years at the school. 

During the conversation with Wyner — a professor of statistics and data science and a member of the University Task Force on Antisemitism — Dershowitz praised Penn Hillel and the University for hosting him, noting that he has not been able to speak at Harvard University since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. He repeatedly criticized Harvard throughout the event.  

Dershowitz shared his belief that professors who have accused Israel of perpetrating a genocide against Palestinians should be subjected to similar sanctions as Wax, whom he said was accused of "recklessly disregarding data." 

In September, Penn upheld sanctions against Wax following her history of discriminatory remarks and two years of disciplinary proceedings with little precedent. The Daily Pennsylvanian previously reported that the recommended sanctions against Wax included a one-year suspension at half pay, the removal of her named chair and summer pay, and a requirement for Wax to note in public appearances that she is not speaking on behalf or as a member of Penn Carey Law.  

After the event, Dershowitz told the DP that "the Amy Wax standard is against academic freedom and can’t be applied universally."

Dershowitz, during the event, alleged a "double standard" in the University's disciplinary actions against Wax and professors who are anti-Israel, adding that there will "never" be an "end of antisemitism at the University of Pennsylvania as long as you have a bureaucracy of DEI" and that the "only way to dismantle antisemitism is to dismantle the bureaucracy." He added that he is "opposed" to university departments that focus on ethnic, religious, and gender studies. 

In response to an audience member's question of how "Jewish students can take their campuses back," Dershowitz praised student activists for "standing up" for Israel. He also praised donors, including Marc Rowan and Bill Ackman, for withdrawing their donations from Penn and Harvard. 

Wharton and Engineering senior Noah Rubin, one of the organizers of the event, said that he invited Dershowitz to speak at Penn after meeting him at a conference. 

"We were very excited that he did come speak, and I thought it was a great conversation between him and Professor Wyner," Rubin told the DP. 

Rubin added that he hoped students would read Dershowitz's book following the event, adding that he "think[s] people want to hear smart people talk about campus antisemitism [and] the war in Israel," further describing the talk as "a very honest conversation." 

Dershowitz told the DP that he thought it was “great that a speech about Israel could go on with great questions and no disruptions and students being able to ask anything they wanted."

"I wish there were more of that on campus," he added. "I think that people hunger to hear different points of view. I was thrilled to have the interlocutor that I had [Wyner] who was so brilliant and so knowledgeable, but the next time I come, I’d like to have somebody on the other side debate me.” 

Dershowitz, who has been one of the most successful attorneys and legal scholars in the country, has received popular attention for defending high-profile and unpopular clients.

Throughout his career, Dershowitz represented O.J. Simpson in his 1995 murder trial, negotiated Jeffrey Epstein's immunity in 2008, and joined Harvey Weinstein's defense team in 2019. He also defended 1968 Wharton graduate, former president, and President-elect Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020 — despite previously supporting Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. 

Dershowitz also said in 2019 that he would "enthusiastically support" former Penn professor and President Joe Biden's election campaign. Later, he called Trump's incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the United States Capitol "constitutionally protected" speech, adding that it would be his "honor and privilege" to defend Trump in a trial.