Includes bibliographical references and index.

Alan Dershowitz has been called the "winningest appellate criminal defense lawyer in history." He has led or been part of the defense team for such storied clients as Bill Clinton, Julian Assange, O. J. Simpson, Claus von Bülow, Mia Farrow, Jeffrey MacDonald, Patty Hearst, Mike Tyson, and many more. Here, for the first time, Dershowitz writes about his evolution as a lawyer--how within a few short years he changed from a C-minus student in Yeshiva High School to become the youngest full professor in the history of Harvard Law School. He describes his formative years as a clerk for the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. He discusses the evolution of his thinking over the years as he tackles the subtleties of censorship and the limits of First Amendment law, the ongoing tension between individual freedom and national security, the evolution of civil rights, and why the abortion rights debate hasn't moved forward since Roe v. Wade. Filled with unforgettable cases and vignettes, Taking the Stand is a deeply personal account of one of the legendary legal minds of our time.--From publisher description.