Dworkin, Ronald (1931– )

US jurist. A leading exponent of liberalism, he has consistently challenged the positivist notion of law – that a legal system is the sum of its rules – by stressing the importance of moral principles or rights in assessing particular cases. His publications include Taking Rights Seriously 1977 and Life's Dominion 1993, a discussion of euthanasia and abortion in which he argues against the belief in fetal rights and in favour of the right to terminate a pregnancy when necessary.

He is professor of jurisprudence at Oxford University and professor of law at New York University.