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Truman Appoints A Prosecutor

Executive Order, May 2, 1945
Harry S Truman (1884-1972)
Executive Order, May 2, 1945
Typewritten copy
Manuscript Division (77.5)

On May 2, 1945, President Harry S Truman issued Executive Order 9547, appointing Robert H. Jackson, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, as Chief of Counsel before an International Military Tribunal. This unprecedented court was to try prominent Nazi leaders for serious offenses committed both before and during World War II: conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Given broad powers to act on behalf of the United States in conjunction with America's major allies, Jackson later observed that he had never before been compelled to establish a court and then find a courthouse in which to try his case.

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