Simon H. Rifkind
Encyclopedia
Simon Hirsch Rifkind was a prominent United States federal judge
and trial lawyer.
, Rifkind emigrated to the United States
in 1910. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School
, and received a B.S. from City College of New York
in 1922 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
in 1925.
From 1927 to 1933, he was legislative secretary to Senator Robert F. Wagner
, in which capacity he helped create important aspects of New Deal
legislation including Section 7(a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act
. He was partner at Wagner, Quillinan & Rifkind from 1930 to 1941. Rifkind was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on April 25, 1941, to become a Federal District Court judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
, filling the seat vacated by Robert P. Patterson, Sr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 3, 1941, and received his commission on June 6, 1941.
In 1945, Rifkind took a leave of absence from the bench to serve as adviser on Jewish affairs to the Theatre Commander of United States forces in Europe, helping the U.S. Army aid Holocaust survivors in the wake of World War II
. Rifkind resigned from the bench in 1950, and until his death in 1995 served as a litigation partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Over the course of his tenure he came to be seen as the guiding spirit of the firm.
, was tapped by President John F. Kennedy
to investigate railroad labor issues, and helped create (and later served as General Counsel of) the Mutual Assistance Corporation for New York City during New York's bankruptcy crisis in the 1970s.
Rifkind represented a number of famous clients in high-profile court cases. He worked for Jacqueline Kennedy, United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
in a U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry, and represented Madame Chiang Kai-shek in a defamation suit. In less glamorous, but equally important cases, Rifkind represented a wide variety of corporations, including General Motors Corporation and Pennzoil
.
United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas called Rifkind "the most outstanding advocate of all" the lawyers who appeared before the Court between 1939 and 1975.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
and trial lawyer.
Biography
Born in LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Rifkind emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1910. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
, and received a B.S. from City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1922 and an LL.B. from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1925.
From 1927 to 1933, he was legislative secretary to Senator Robert F. Wagner
Robert F. Wagner
Robert Ferdinand Wagner I was an American politician. He was a Democratic U.S. Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949.-Origin and early life:...
, in which capacity he helped create important aspects of New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
legislation including Section 7(a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act
National Industrial Recovery Act
The National Industrial Recovery Act , officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 (Ch. 90, 48 Stat. 195, formerly...
. He was partner at Wagner, Quillinan & Rifkind from 1930 to 1941. Rifkind was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
on April 25, 1941, to become a Federal District Court judge for 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...
, filling the seat vacated by Robert P. Patterson, Sr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 3, 1941, and received his commission on June 6, 1941.
In 1945, Rifkind took a leave of absence from the bench to serve as adviser on Jewish affairs to the Theatre Commander of United States forces in Europe, helping the U.S. Army aid Holocaust survivors in the wake of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Rifkind resigned from the bench in 1950, and until his death in 1995 served as a litigation partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Over the course of his tenure he came to be seen as the guiding spirit of the firm.
Career
Rifkind's work as a lawyer covered a vast range of matters affecting American political, social and economic life. He was appointed by the United States Supreme Court to sort out the rival claims of various western states to the Colorado RiverColorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, was tapped by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to investigate railroad labor issues, and helped create (and later served as General Counsel of) the Mutual Assistance Corporation for New York City during New York's bankruptcy crisis in the 1970s.
Rifkind represented a number of famous clients in high-profile court cases. He worked for Jacqueline Kennedy, United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
in a U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry, and represented Madame Chiang Kai-shek in a defamation suit. In less glamorous, but equally important cases, Rifkind represented a wide variety of corporations, including General Motors Corporation and Pennzoil
Pennzoil
Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...
.
United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas called Rifkind "the most outstanding advocate of all" the lawyers who appeared before the Court between 1939 and 1975.