Edward Weinfeld
Encyclopedia
Edward Weinfeld was a longtime federal judge
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
, from 1950 to 1988.
Born in New York City
, Weinfeld attended the New York University School of Law
, receiving an LL.B. in 1921 and an LL.M. in 1924. After working for more than a decade as a practicing lawyer
in Manhattan
, Weinfeld served as Commissioner of Housing for New York State from 1939 to 1942, when he became vice president and a director of the New York State Citizens Housing and Planning Council.
In 1950, U.S. President
Harry S. Truman
named Weinfeld to the district bench. During his 38 years as a federal judge
, Weinfeld was widely esteemed as one of the best judges in the country, known for giving detailed attention and writing persuasive opinions in every case assigned to him, large or small. Often quoted is his statement, "[E]very case is equally important." A 1983 article in American Lawyer magazine described him as the best judge within the geographical reach of the Second Circuit.
Cases decided by Weinfeld during his long career included the famed libel suit brought by Quentin Reynolds
against Westbrook Pegler
(immortalized by lawyer Louis Nizer
in his book My Life in Court), and the antitrust
case striking down a proposed merger of Bethlehem Steel
and Youngstown Sheet and Tube
.
During the 1970s, Weinfeld also served as a member of the Commission on the Bankruptcy Laws of the United States, which was charged with reforming and updating the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, culminating in passage of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978.
Weinfeld was the oldest federal judge in active service in the nation when he died in 1988, at the age of 87. He is memorialized by an endowed professorship at New York University Law School and in the names of several awards presented by bar association
s.
Many of Weinfeld's law clerks, such as T. Alexander Aleinikoff
, have gone on to great success in the legal profession, including some who have become judges themselves.
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
, from 1950 to 1988.
Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Weinfeld attended the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
, receiving an LL.B. in 1921 and an LL.M. in 1924. After working for more than a decade as a practicing lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, Weinfeld served as Commissioner of Housing for New York State from 1939 to 1942, when he became vice president and a director of the New York State Citizens Housing and Planning Council.
In 1950, U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
named Weinfeld to the district bench. During his 38 years as a federal judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
, Weinfeld was widely esteemed as one of the best judges in the country, known for giving detailed attention and writing persuasive opinions in every case assigned to him, large or small. Often quoted is his statement, "[E]very case is equally important." A 1983 article in American Lawyer magazine described him as the best judge within the geographical reach of the Second Circuit.
Cases decided by Weinfeld during his long career included the famed libel suit brought by Quentin Reynolds
Quentin Reynolds
Quentin James Reynolds was a journalist and World War II war correspondent.As associate editor at Collier's Weekly from 1933 to 1945, Reynolds averaged twenty articles a year...
against Westbrook Pegler
Westbrook Pegler
Francis James Westbrook Pegler was an American journalist and writer. He was a popular columnist in the 1930s and 1940s famed for his opposition to the New Deal and labor unions. Pegler criticized every president from Herbert Hoover to FDR to Harry Truman to John F. Kennedy...
(immortalized by lawyer Louis Nizer
Louis Nizer
Louis Nizer was a noted Jewish-American trial lawyer and senior partner of the law firm Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon...
in his book My Life in Court), and the antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
case striking down a proposed merger of Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
and Youngstown Sheet and Tube
Youngstown Sheet and Tube
The Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company, based in Youngstown, Ohio, was one of the largest steel manufacturers in the world. Officially, the company was created on November 23, 1900, when Articles of Incorporation of the Youngstown Iron Sheet and Tube Company were filed with the Ohio Secretary...
.
During the 1970s, Weinfeld also served as a member of the Commission on the Bankruptcy Laws of the United States, which was charged with reforming and updating the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, culminating in passage of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978.
Weinfeld was the oldest federal judge in active service in the nation when he died in 1988, at the age of 87. He is memorialized by an endowed professorship at New York University Law School and in the names of several awards presented by bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
s.
Many of Weinfeld's law clerks, such as T. Alexander Aleinikoff
T. Alexander Aleinikoff
T. Alexander Aleinikoff is a law professor and dean at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He is currently on leave to be the Deputy High Commissioner in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Switzerland.- Background :Aleinikoff received a...
, have gone on to great success in the legal profession, including some who have become judges themselves.