On this date eighty years ago, United States Chief of Counsel Justice Robert H. Jackson entered his appearance before the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.
The Tribunal was preparing to adjudicate the indictment of accused Nazi war criminals. On November 14, 1945, it met in a pretrial session to consider a defense counsel’s motion to suspend proceedings against his client, defendant Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, based on serious illness (brain damage and mental decline).
Justice Jackson began what was to be nine months of work in Palace of Justice Courtroom 600 by formally announcing his lawful status:
Appearing in opposition to this motion, I should, perhaps, first file with the Tribunal my commission from President Truman to represent the United States in this proceeding. I will exhibit the original commission and hand a photostat to the Secretary.
