In Memoriam: Ronald M. Dworkin

Ronald M. Dworkin, 81, the Frank Henry Sommer Professor of Law at New York University, known for his theory that moral integrity should guide legal actions, died of leukemia on February 14 in London. A former Rhodes Scholar and law clerk to Judge Learned Hand of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, he taught at Yale Law School before coming to NYU in 1975. Professor Dworkin, who was considered one of the greatest legal scholars of his time, wrote several extremely influential books on legal philosophy; his most recent volume, Justice for Hedgehogs, was published in 2011 to enthusiastic reviews. In 2005 he was the recipient, along with Judge Richard A. Posner, of the ALI’s prestigious Henry J. Friendly Medal.