• Criminal law and procedure
• Sentencing
• Professional responsibility

Education

• B.A., Columbia, 1972
• J.D., 1975

Detailed Biography

Appointed U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York by President Clinton in 2000. Joined Columbia faculty in 1977, following clerkships with Judge Wilfred Feinberg of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1975-76, and Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1976-77, and was vice dean of the Law School, 1992-97. Has been visiting professor or lecturer at Hebrew University, Jerusalem; National Police Academy (Tokyo); Tokyo University; University of Buenos Aires; and Universities of Leiden and Amsterdam. Served as assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1980-83, prosecuting white-collar criminal cases and serving as chief appellate attorney. Returned to that office as chief of the criminal division, 1990-92. Was appointed counsel to numerous city, state, and federal commissions and special prosecutors investigating public corruption, including the Iran/Contra investigation, where among other responsibilities he briefed and argued the prosecution position in the appeal of Oliver North. Briefed and argued cases in federal appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, as a cooperating attorney with the American and New York Civil Liberties Unions, and has extensive experience as a defense attorney in state and federal cases. Member of the American Law Institute, and of various bar associations and advisory committees. Has published and lectured on the federal racketeering laws, sentencing, plea bargaining and other aspects of criminal law, constitutional theory, and legal ethics. Received the student-voted Willis Reese Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994) and was the first member of the law faculty to receive the University-wide President's Award for Outstanding Teaching (1997). Principal teaching and research areas include criminal law and procedure, sentencing, and professional responsibility.