Samuel H. Kaufman
Encyclopedia
Samuel Hamilton Kaufman (October 26, 1893 - May 5, 1960) was a federal
judge
in New York City
.
Kaufman graduated from the New York University School of Law
and practiced privately as a lawyer
in New York from 1918 to 1948. He also served as a special assistant to the Attorney General
in 1935-36, as a special counsel at the Federal Communications Commission
in 1937-38, and as an attorney for a congressional committee investigating the bombing of Pearl Harbor
in 1946.
In 1948, President
Harry S. Truman
appointed Kaufman as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
. Kaufman served until 1955, when he became medically disabled and took senior status
. He died in 1960.
Kaufman was best known as the judge who presided over the first trial of Alger Hiss
for perjury before a federal grand jury. That trial ended in a hung jury
. The case was reassigned and the second trial, which resulted in a conviction, was presided over by Judge Henry W. Goddard
.
Samuel Kaufman was not related to Judge Irving R. Kaufman, who was appointed to the Southern District of New York at about the same time and later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
.
Prominent New York attorney Milton S. Gould
recounted several tales of his work for Kaufman's firm in articles for the New York Law Journal, which were reprinted in Gould's memoir The Witness Who Spoke to God and Other Tales from the Courthouse (Viking Press 1979).
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
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...
.
Kaufman graduated from 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....
and practiced privately as a 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 New York from 1918 to 1948. He also served as a special assistant to the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
in 1935-36, as a special counsel at the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
in 1937-38, and as an attorney for a congressional committee investigating the bombing of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in 1946.
In 1948, 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...
appointed Kaufman as a judge 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...
. Kaufman served until 1955, when he became medically disabled and took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
. He died in 1960.
Kaufman was best known as the judge who presided over the first trial of Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, government official, author, and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations both as a U.S. State Department and U.N. official...
for perjury before a federal grand jury. That trial ended in a hung jury
Hung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
. The case was reassigned and the second trial, which resulted in a conviction, was presided over by Judge Henry W. Goddard
Henry W. Goddard
Henry Warren Goddard was a longtime federal judge in New York City.Born in New York, Goddard graduated from New York Law School in 1901. From 1901 to 1923, he worked as a lawyer in private practise in Manhattan and became active in Republican politics. In 1923, President Warren G...
.
Samuel Kaufman was not related to Judge Irving R. Kaufman, who was appointed to the Southern District of New York at about the same time and later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
.
Prominent New York attorney Milton S. Gould
Milton S. Gould
Milton S. Gould was a prominent New York City trial attorney. He graduated from Cornell Law School in 1933. Gould joined a staid "white shoe" law firm in New York City which he found unpleasant and quit to join a newly formed firm, Kaufman, Weitzman & Celler. The founders of that firm included...
recounted several tales of his work for Kaufman's firm in articles for the New York Law Journal, which were reprinted in Gould's memoir The Witness Who Spoke to God and Other Tales from the Courthouse (Viking Press 1979).