William Joseph Campbell

For the meteorologist, see William Joseph Campbell (meteorologist) .

William Joseph Campbell (March 19, 1905 – October 19, 1988) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois .

Contents

• 1 Education and career

• 2 Federal judicial service

  • 2.1 Notable cases

• 3 Supreme Court consideration

• 4 Controversy

• 5 Award and honors

• 6 Family

• 7 See also

• 8 References

• 9 Sources

Education and career

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Campbell was born in Chicago , Illinois , and was a graduate of St. Rita of Cascia High School .[_citation needed
_] He received a Bachelor of Laws from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1926 and a Master of Laws from the same school in 1928.

Admitted to the Illinois Bar, he was an attorney for Travelers Insurance Company in Chicago from 1925 to 1930, Campbell was in private practice in Chicago until 1940, opening the firm of Campbell and Burns. The new firm's first major client was the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago . It was at this time that Campbell first got involved in Chicago Democratic politics.[_citation needed
] An early supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt , Campbell formed the Young Democrats for Roosevelt in 1932.[citation needed
] For his efforts he was named Illinois administrator for the President's National Youth Administration in 1935, where he served until 1938 when he was designated United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois where he served until 1940. As a federal prosecutor, he helped convict Al Capone of tax evasion and challenged the city's political leaders and their system of influence.[citation needed
_]

Federal judicial service

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Campbell was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 24, 1940, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois , to a new seat authorized by 54 Stat. 219. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1940, and received his commission on October 10, 1940. He served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1958 to 1961, and as Chief Judge from 1959 to 1970. He assumed senior status on March 19, 1970. He served as Assistant Director of the Federal Judicial Center from 1971 to 1988. His service terminated on October 19, 1988, due to his death in West Palm Beach , Florida . At the time of his death, he was the longest-tenured federal judge in the United States.[_citation needed
_]

Notable cases

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Early in his time on the bench he conducted one of the few treason trials ever held in the United States. The case was a mass trial of the parents of Herbert Hans Haupt , his aunt and uncle, and two family friends.

Campbell won national praise for the severity of the sentences. However, on appeal, the entire group had their convictions reversed due to technical errors. Walter and Otto later pleaded guilty to misprision of treason and received 5-year sentences. Hans Haupt was retried, found guilty of treason once more, but received a life sentence. Charges were dropped against Lucille and Kate, albeit Erna Haupt was held until the war ended and deported in 1948. In 1957, Hans Haupt was granted clemency by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and deported to Germany on the condition that he would never return to the United States.

In 1965, Campbell took on Chicago kingpin Sam Giancana .[_citation needed
] When Giancana was asked to testify before a Chicago Grand Jury , he invoked his fifth amendment right to remain silent.[citation needed
] Campbell granted Giancana immunity from prosecution and ordered him to testify.[citation needed
] After Giancana refused, he spent the next year in jail on contempt charges.[citation needed
_]

Supreme Court consideration

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Early in his time on the bench he conducted one of the few treason trials ever held in the United States. The case was a mass trial of the parents of Herbert Hans Haupt , his aunt and uncle, and two family friends.

Campbell won national praise for the severity of the sentences. However, on appeal, the entire group had their convictions reversed due to technical errors. Walter and Otto later pleaded guilty to misprision of treason and received 5-year sentences. Hans Haupt was retried, found guilty of treason once more, but received a life sentence. Charges were dropped against Lucille and Kate, albeit Erna Haupt was held until the war ended and deported in 1948. In 1957, Hans Haupt was granted clemency by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and deported to Germany on the condition that he would never return to the United States.

In 1965, Campbell took on Chicago kingpin Sam Giancana .[_citation needed
] When Giancana was asked to testify before a Chicago Grand Jury , he invoked his fifth amendment right to remain silent.[citation needed
] Campbell granted Giancana immunity from prosecution and ordered him to testify.[citation needed
] After Giancana refused, he spent the next year in jail on contempt charges.[citation needed
_]

Supreme Court consideration

When Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg stepped down 1965 to accept a diplomatic post, many thought Campbell was certain to be appointed to the Court by President [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson "Lyndon B. …