Charles F. Wennerstrum
Encyclopedia
Charles F. Wennerstrum was an American
lawyer
who presided over and sharply criticized some of the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II.
Wennerstrum was born in Cambridge, Illinois
and studied at Drake University
, where he graduated in law in 1914. Elected county attorney of Lucas County
in 1916, he served as a lieutenant of the U.S. Army in World War I
. From 1941 to 1958, he served on the Iowa Supreme Court
, where he was chief justice for two years. During that time, he also served as the presiding judge in the Hostages Case at the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials
in Nuremberg
, Germany
in 1947/48, where some Generals of the German army were tried for having committed war crimes.
He assailed what he saw as the nationalistic and biased approaches of some prosecutors to the trials, suggesting that some of them were more interested in furthering their own careers than in seeing justice done.
The trials were to have convinced the Germans of the guilt of their leaders, he said in 1948. They convinced the Germans merely that they lost the war to tough conquerors.
After retiring from the Supreme Court of Iowa, he opened a private law practice in Des Moines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
who presided over and sharply criticized some of the Nuremberg war crimes trials after World War II.
Wennerstrum was born in Cambridge, Illinois
Cambridge, Illinois
Cambridge is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,160 at the 2010 census, down from 2,180 at the 2000 census...
and studied at Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, where he graduated in law in 1914. Elected county attorney of Lucas County
Lucas County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,898 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,238 housing units, of which 3,689 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1916, he served as a lieutenant of the U.S. Army in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. From 1941 to 1958, he served on the Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
, where he was chief justice for two years. During that time, he also served as the presiding judge in the Hostages Case at the Subsequent Nuremberg Trials
Subsequent Nuremberg Trials
The Subsequent Nuremberg Trials were a series of twelve U.S...
in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1947/48, where some Generals of the German army were tried for having committed war crimes.
He assailed what he saw as the nationalistic and biased approaches of some prosecutors to the trials, suggesting that some of them were more interested in furthering their own careers than in seeing justice done.
The trials were to have convinced the Germans of the guilt of their leaders, he said in 1948. They convinced the Germans merely that they lost the war to tough conquerors.
After retiring from the Supreme Court of Iowa, he opened a private law practice in Des Moines.