1. Charles Fried, Legal Scholar Who Defected From Conservative Camp, Passes Away at 88.
2. Renowned Legal Scholar Charles Fried, Critical of Conservatives, Dies at 88..
Charles Fried, a renowned conservative legal scholar and former solicitor general under President Ronald Reagan, has passed away at the age of 88. The news of his death was announced by Harvard Law School, where he taught for many years and influenced countless students, including future Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer and former Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld.
Born to Jewish parents who fled Czechoslovakia to escape the Nazis in 1939, Fried’s conservative views were shaped by both his personal background and the left-leaning atmosphere at Harvard Law School in the 1970s. He became disenchanted with the left and saw going into the Reagan administration as a way to oppose it.
During his tenure as solicitor general, Fried argued against abortion rights in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade. However, he later changed his stance, recognizing that the 1992 case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey had firmly established the right to abortion. He wrote in a 2021 opinion column for The New York Times that overturning Roe now would be an act of constitutional vandalism.
Fried’s intellectual evolution from conservative to moderate was also influenced by his conversations with his adult children and grandchildren. He acknowledged the importance of listening and engaging in dialogue, which led to a shift in his perspectives.
While Fried initially supported the confirmation of Chief Justice John G. Roberts in 2005, he became a vocal critic of the Roberts court’s decisions that limited voting rights, labor unions, campaign finance reform, and failed to address partisan gerrymandering. He argued that these decisions were reactionary rather than conservative in the classical sense.
Justice Breyer, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton, praised Fried’s intellectual honesty and love for ideas. He described Fried as someone who would try out different ideas and listen to others’ thoughts.
In addition to his legal career, Fried had a strong academic interest in moral and political philosophy. He wrote several books on the subject, exploring how these disciplines shed light on legal problems.
Despite his Republican affiliation and long-standing involvement with the conservative Federalist Society, Fried was a staunch critic of President Donald J. Trump and his disregard for the law. He publicly condemned Trump’s attempts to obstruct the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as his pressure on Ukraine, which led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Charles Fried’s life was marked by his journey from escaping Naziism to becoming a respected legal scholar and influential professor. He leaves behind his wife, Anne Summerscale, a son named Gregory, who is a philosophy professor, and a daughter named Antonia, who is a psychologist.
Fried announced his retirement in December but planned to continue engaging with legal and political issues. He defended Harvard University’s president, Claudine Gay, in the face of accusations of antisemitism and plagiarism. He believed these attacks were part of an extreme right-wing assault on elite institutions.
With his passing, the legal and academic communities have lost a prominent figure whose contributions will continue to shape legal discourse in the years to come. Charles Fried will be remembered for his intellectual curiosity, his willingness to evolve, and his commitment to the principles of justice and the rule of law..
– Charles Fried, Legal Scholar Who Broke With Conservatives, Dies at 88
– Charles Fried, Legal Scholar Who Defied Conservatives, Passes Away at 88.
