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Floyd Abrams | |
|---|---|
 Abrams in 2006 | |
| Born | (1936-07-09)July 9, 1936 (age 89) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Cornell University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Employer | Cahill Gordon & Reindel |
| Known for | First Amendment litigation |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Family | Elliott Abrams (cousin) |
Floyd Abrams (born July 9, 1936) is an American lawyer. A member ofCahill Gordon & Reindel since 1963 and currently senior counsel. He has argued 13 First Amendment cases in front of theSupreme Court of the United States, more than any other attorney.[1][2][3][4] Abrams was co-counsel toThe New York Times in the 1971Pentagon Papers case, and representedJudith Miller in theCIA leak grand jury investigation,Standard & Poor's, andLorillard Tobacco Company among others.[5][6][7][8] He also represented Senator Mitch McConnell in theCitizens United 2010 Supreme Court case.[9][10] Two of Abrams' clients had been on death row for crimes, and their convictions were overruled by the Supreme Court.[11][12][13] A documentary was recently released about him calledSpeaking Freely.[14]
Abrams was born inNew York City on July 9, 1936, the son of Rae (née Eberlin) and Isadore Abrams.[15] He is ofJewish descent.[16] His first cousin isElliot Abrams, PresidentGeorge W. Bush's deputy national-security advisor.[17] He earned his undergraduate degree fromCornell University in 1956, and after trying to decide between a PhD inAmerican History and law, he obtained hisJuris Doctor fromYale Law School in 1960.[18]
From 1961 to 1963, Abrams clerked for JudgePaul Conway Leahy of theUnited States District Court for the District of Delaware.[19] Abrams joined Cahill Gordon & Reindel in 1963 and became a partner in 1970.[20][21] He was also a Visiting Lecturer atColumbia Law School from 1981 to 1985.[22] He was theWilliam J. Brennan Jr. visiting Professor at theColumbia University Graduate School of Journalism.[23]
He is the founder of the Floyd Abrams Institute for Freedom of Expression at Yale Law School and the recipient of numerous awards including the Freedom Forum's Free Expression Award, The Media Institute's Freedom of Speech Award, and the American Lawyer's Lifetime Achievement Award.[24][25][26][27][28] He is also the namesake of the National Coalition Against Censorship's inaugural Floyd Abrams Award, which recognizes those who have advanced free speech.[29]
Abrams is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[30]
His clients have included The McGraw-Hill Companies, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN,Time Magazine,Business Week,The Nation,Reader's Digest, Hearst, AIG, and others.[31]
He is the author of numerous books includingSpeaking Freely,The Soul of The First Amendment, andFriend of The Court.
He is the subject of the PBS - American Masters documentaryFloyd Abrams: Speaking Freely, which was nominated for an Emmy.[32][33]
Abrams lives inNew York City with wife Efrat Surasky, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.[34][35] Together they have a son, television hostDan Abrams; and a daughter, JudgeRonnie Abrams of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In 2008, Abrams played the role of Judge Hall in the movieNothing but the Truth.[36]
Does your heritage as a Jew give you a particular affinity as a lawyer for the First Amendment, which protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech and establishes the separation of church and state?
