The Nuremberg Roles of Justice Robert H. Jackson
Washington University Global Studies Law Review, Vol. 6, pp. 511-525, 2007
17 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2011
Date Written: 2007
Abstract
During 1945-1946, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson served, by appointment of President Truman, as U.S. chief prosecutor at Nuremberg of the principal surviving Nazi war criminals. This article, based on a lecture at Washington University’s conference on the 60th anniversary of that trial before the International Military Tribunal (IMT), introduces Jackson the person and the public figure. It then considers some of the facets and roles that the Nuremberg trial year was in and for Jackson: the project’s importance; relevant background; ambition; self-sacrifice; commitment to law; innocence and optimism; constant recalibration; eloquent, effective voice; international diplomacy; the London Agreement and IMT Charter; dream (and nightmare) staffing; the Nuremberg indictment; life and work in Allied-occupied former Germany; building and prosecuting the case; effective trial work; vengeance foresworn; seeing the job through; and victory.
Keywords: Justice Robert H. Jackson, Nuremberg, International Military Tribunal, Nazi war crimes
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