Alan Dershowitz

“In the courtroom, it's not the best case that wins, it's the best story.”

“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”

“Civil liberties are not an optional extra. They are the bedrock of our democracy.”

“The legal system is often a mystery, and we, its priests, preside over rituals baffling to everyday citizens.”

“Silence is not an option when things are ill-done.”

“My own view is that if you're going to be a critic, you ought to be a critic of both sides.”

“Judges are the weakest link in our system of justice, and they are also the most protected.”

“Jokes are the canary in the coal mine of the First Amendment.”

“The separation of church and state is one of the most important principles in our constitutional framework.”

“The first amendment is not a blanket right to say anything you want, anywhere you want, and have it unchallenged.”

“The defendant wants to hide the truth because he's generally guilty. The defense attorney's job is to make sure the jury does not arrive at that truth.”

“I have a constitutional right to be obnoxious.”

“There should be a statute of limitations on historical offenses.”

“You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.”

“The presumption of innocence is not just a legal concept. In everyday life, it is a key component of civilized society.”

“You can't have a university without having controversy.”