Irving Robert Kaufman (June 24, 1910 – February 1, 1992) was a United States federal judge, first on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and then on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Early in his tenure on the District Court, he became nationally known for presiding over the espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and for sentencing the couple to death. Later in his career, he issued landmark rulings on cases involving the First Amendment, civil rights, and antitrust law. In 1987, he was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Irving Robert Kaufman
Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Chief Judge — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Born 1910 in New York, NY
Died 1992 in New York, NY
FJC ID: 1231
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- White
Prior employment
- Judicial Conference of the United StatesMember · 1973–1980
- Private practice, New York City1932–1935, 1940–1949
Special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States1947–1948
Assistant U.S. attorney · 1939–1940- Special assistant U.S. attorney · 1935–1939
Appointments
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second CircuitChief Judge1961–1992 · Appointed by John F. Kennedy (Democratic)Term ended: Death
1950–1961 · Appointed by Harry S Truman (Democratic)Term ended: Appointment to Another Judicial Position
Education
LL.B. · 1931