Pevzner Alexander (1909-1978)

Pevzner (Pewsner) Alexander (1909–1978) — lawyer.

Born on 27 October 1909 in Vitebsk Governorate, Velizh Uyezd. His father was Boris. From 1910, he lived with his family in Riga. In 1915, the family fled as refugees to Russia, returning to Latvia in October 1918.

In 1926, he graduated from the J. Landau Gymnasium. In 1927, he began studying law at the University of Latvia, graduating in 1933. During his studies, he was active in the Jewish socialist student organization Cukunft. Beginning in 1928, he worked as secretary to sworn attorney G. Rubinstein. In 1932–1933, he also worked at the legal consultation office of the Latvian Trade Union Central Bureau.

From 1930 to 1934, Pevzner was a member of the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party (LSDSP), Russian section; a member of the “Workers’ Sport and Defense” organization; and of the societies Borba (“Struggle”) and Workers' Youth, where he served on the audit committee. After the 15 May 1934 coup, he was arrested on 17 May and imprisoned in the Liepāja concentration camp. Upon his release in December 1934, he worked as a clerk and bookkeeper. He continued political activity in the Latvian Socialist Party of Workers and Peasants.

During the Soviet occupation, from 28 August 1940, he served as assistant to sworn attorney M. Kron in Riga. From June 1940 to March 1941, he was also a state commissioner at the firms “Stars” and “R. Schwarz.” In January 1941, he was admitted to the Bar Association. In summer 1941, he was evacuated to Russia. From August 1941, he worked as an accountant for the Chkalov District Bar Association; from October 1941, he was a legal adviser at the Tashkular branch of the People's Commissariat of Trade in the Kyrgyz SSR.

In January 1942, Pevzner was drafted into the Red Army and served in a reserve regiment of the Latvian Rifle Division. From June 1942, he was an attorney at the Zuev Legal Consultation Office in Kirov District. In May 1945, he was assigned as a lawyer to the Liepāja Legal Consultation Office but refused the posting. He taught at the School of Law. From June 1945, he worked at Riga’s 3rd Legal Consultation Office; in May 1946, he transferred to the Rēzekne Office; and from August 1948, to Riga’s 7th Office. In December 1948, by order of the Minister of Justice, he was expelled from the Bar Association. He continued to work as a legal adviser.

He died in 1978.

In 1948, he married Irina Levinson, a former assistant to a sworn attorney and attorney herself.

Selected Work:

Pilsoņu dzīvikļu tiesības (“Housing Rights of Citizens”). Riga, 1974 (co-author).