Edward Zelinsky is an American legal scholar and specialist in tax law working as a professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City. He has also been a visiting professor at the Yale Law School and has taught at Cornell University, New York University, and Columbia University.[1][2]

Edward Zelinsky
Academic background
EducationYale University (BA, MA, JD, MPhil)
Academic work
DisciplineLaw
Sub-disciplineTax law
Tax policy
InstitutionsYeshiva University

Education

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Zelinsky is a native of Rock Island, Illinois, but his father, Dr. Morris Zukerman died when he was only five. Three years later, his mother, the former Lucille Brotman, married Harold Zelinsky of Omaha. where Edward grew up. In 1967, he was elected Grand Aleph Godol of A.Z.A, the boys youth branch of B'nai Brith. A 1968 graduate of Omaha's Central High school, he then attended Yale, and Yale Law School. His son, Aaron Zelinsky, worked as an assistant United States attorney in Maryland.[3] He earned a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Juris Doctor, and Master of Philosophy from Yale University.[4]

Career

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Zelinsky has testified before the United States Congress and United States House Committee on the Judiciary.[1][2][5][6] He has served on the New Haven Board of Aldermen, and when elected was the first person to be elected to the board while a student at Yale University.[7]

In 2003, he challenged the State of New York on its so-called "convenience of the employer" doctrine which enabled New York to engage in what Zelinsky and others have alleged is unconstitutional double taxation of remote workers.[8] The case, Zelinsky v. Tax Appeals Tribunal, was denied certiorari by the U.S. Supreme Court after the New York Court of Appeals decided against Zelinsky.[8][9] Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd subsequently attempted to introduce federal legislation that would prevent New York and other states from engaging in such taxation.[10]

Zelinsky and Justice Samuel Alito attended Yale Law School together. In November 2005, during Alito's confirmation process for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States, Zelinsky supported Alito in the press, identifying himself as "a Democrat for Sam".[11]

Zelinsky was critical of the Obama administration's foreign policy toward Iran. He also believes the Logan Act is an anachronism in view of modern communications, and should be repealed.[12]

Publications

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His 2007 book The Origins of the Ownership Society (OUP) examines the political and social implications of a defined contribution paradigm.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Edward A. Zelinsky, Morris and Annie Trachman Professor of Law". Cardozo (Yeshiva University). Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  2. ^ a b David Margolick (1991-11-12). "Yale Law Alumni Focus On Reunion, or Try To". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  3. ^ "New Haven native set to be star witness against Barr". The CT Mirror. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  4. ^ "Edward Zelinsky". cardozo.yu.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  5. ^ Editorial (2006-03-02). "State has right to set own tax policy". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  6. ^ Brian Leiter estimated that Zelinsky was the 7th most cited tax-law professor in the United States.Brian Leiter (2007-08-20). "Brian Leiter's Law School Reports". Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  7. ^ Tim R. A. Cooper; Michael Horn; And Jared Stanisci (1999-09-16). "More irregularities found in Yale U. student's win in New Haven vote". Yale Daily News.
  8. ^ a b Goluboo, Nicole Belson (August 6, 2006). "Taxing Telecommuters". New York Times.
  9. ^ Toni Kistner (2008-06-07). "Fighting for fair telework tax: New York state's practice spurs draft federal legislation". Network World. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  10. ^ William F. Hammond Jr. (2004-08-04). "State Could Lose Telecommute Tax Revenue Under Proposal". The New York Sun.
  11. ^ Josh Gerstein (2005-09-01). "Is He a Scalia?". The New York Sun.
  12. ^ John Kerry and the Logan Act, Edward A. Zelinsky, OUPblog, 6 October 2018