AJC Honors London Law Firm For Brilliant Defense of Deborah Lipstadt

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 5 May 2000

The American Jewish Committee today honored the London law firm Mischon de Reya for its "brilliant defense" of Emory University Professor Deborah Lipstadt and "inspired use of law to combat hatred and anti-Semitism."

"Your hard work and brilliant legal strategy not only won the day, but left a tremendous record, including a 334 page decision, that will help in the battle against Holocaust denial for years to come," said E. Robert Goodkind, chair of AJC's National Council, who presented AJC's 2000 Public Service Award to Mischon de Reya.

Dr. Lipstadt, author of Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory, and her publisher Penguin Books, were sued for libel by Holocaust denier David Irving. Dr. Lipstadt won the case on April 11.

"Justice Charles Gray's opinion made clear that David Irving was not only an anti-Semite, racist and pro-Nazi polemicist, but that he also distorted history in the most perverse fashion in order to exonerate Hitler and the Nazis," said Mr. Goodkind. "What happened in that courtroom was magnificent and that was due to the hard work, dedication and legal brilliance of Deborah's legal team, spearheaded by Anthony Julius and James Libson of Mischon de Reya."

The award was presented at the concluding session of AJC's 94th Annual Meeting, which convened here from May 2-5.

Mr. Libson thanked the American Jewish Committee for its "magnificent support" before and during the trial, and gave special praise to Kenneth Stern, AJC's program specialist on anti-Semitism. "Ken Stern is a jewel in the AJC crown," Mr. Libson said.

Dr. Lipstadt, who addressed the AJC Annual Meeting after the award presentation, also thanked AJC. "You have been there for me, surrounding me with goodness and tremendous support."

During the trial there was only one "fact witness" upon whose written statement the judge relied – Rebecca Gutman, assistant director of the AJC chapter in Sarasota, Florida, who had attended one of Irving's lectures to a Florida neo-Nazi group.

In addition, many AJC staff and lay leaders came to London to observe the trial, including Mr. Stern, AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, and a stream of Atlanta Chapter members organized by chapter director Sherry Frank.

"In the face of pure evil, we rose up and succeeded, and we must continue to fight," said Dr. Lipstadt.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org