Panel discussion with Taylor, Ferencz, Drinan, and Dershowitz

Benjamin B. Ferencz (b. Șomcuta Mare, Romania, 11 Mar. 1920). Among his many positions, Ferencz served as Executive Counsel, Office of the Chief of Counsel for War Crimes, Nuremberg, 1946-1948, and Chief prosecutor for the United States in the war crimes trial against Nazi extermination squads, 1947. More detailed biographical information will be found in the finding aid available via the USHMM Archives. Panel discussion: The Significance of Nuremberg, Principles and Precedents. Speakers include Telford Taylor, Benjamin B. Ferencz, Father Drinan, and Alan Dershowitz. Boston College Law School. Taylor discusses the judicial process as a step in the direction of an ordered world and peace (in his view, this was "the most significant accomplishment of Nuremberg"). Ferencz claims the fundamental principles established as a result of the Nuremberg judgments are a) aggressive war is a crime; b) crimes against humanity; c) head of state is responsible under law. Ferencz argues that the elaborate restitution program designed to compensate survivors was a direct consequence of Nuremberg. Furthermore, he urges the audience to recognize that Nuremberg marked the beginning of an awakening of consciences and that the future significance of Nuremberg depends on "you!" Drinan stresses the importance of establishing a permanent international criminal commission. Dershowitz regards Nuremberg as an appropriate forum for judging the Holocaust (as compared to contemporary inappropriate examples in Canada). Question and Answer session, including a final comment by Rabbi Irving Greenberg concerning the marked idealism of panel participants. He highlighted Nuremberg's main contribution as a combination of political decision-making and judicial procedures.