Charles Nesson

Berkman Center for Internet and Society

Charles Nesson is the founder and faculty co-director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society. He received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Harvard College in 1960, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law summa cum laude in 1963. He clerked for Justice John Marshall Harlan of the United States Supreme Court, and served as Special Assistant to John Doar in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. He joined the Harvard Law faculty in 1966. Nesson has taught courses on evidence, criminal law, trial advocacy, torts and ethics, incorporating the latest technologies. Nesson is also well known as a moderator for the Fred Friendly Seminars on public television employing the Socratic dialogue method of discussion. He has served as a public defender on the Massachusetts Defenders Committee, and as counsel in the Woburn toxic tort case and various civil liberties cases.