"I think the process of discussion, reflection, initiation and follow-through will stretch over such a long period of time that one could argue that this isn't a bad time to let a new dean take over," Michelman added.

Alan M. Dershowitz, professor of Law, said Wednesday Sacks' major contribution while dean has been "to bring a real sense of humanity and civility to the deanship--he's a fine person with no axes to grind, and he's completely fair about everything."

Dershowitz also pointed out that Sacks was the first Jewish dean of the Law School. "The appointment of Sacks broke that bigoted approach that Harvard had for hundreds of years and broke it finally and permanently," he said, adding. "It was a very significant appointment."

Vorenberg noted that one of Sacks' greatest strengths as dean has been "the sense he has given the faculty of a very open institution. He is a classically rational person with whom you can discuss any topic."

Young agreed, saying that Sacks has allowed the faculty to do what it wants. "He doesn't try to impose things from the top," Young added.

Sacks became dean after serving as acting dean for four months following the selection of Bok--who preceded Sacks as dean of the Law School--as president. Before naming Sacks dean, Bok and then-President Nathan M. Pusey '28 consulted the Law School's Governance Committee, which includes students.

At the time of his appointment as acting dean in January 1971, Sacks said he could not imagine a term as dean extending beyond ten or 12 years. "After that length of time, a dean becomes a consolidator of the past." he said.

Currently president of the American Association of Law Schools, Sacks joined the law faculty as an assistant professor in 1952. He became a full professor in 1955 and Dane Professor of Law (a title he still holds) in 1969. He served as associate dean under Bok from 1968-71.

Before coming to Harvard, Sacks served as a clerk to former Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. He received his B.A. from the City College of New York and his law degree from Harvard