Kaufman, Irving Robert

Born June 24, 1910, in New York, NY
Died February 1, 1992, in New York, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Received a recess appointment from Harry S Truman on October 21, 1949, to a new seat authorized by 63 Stat. 493; nominated to the same position by Harry S Truman on January 5, 1950. Confirmed by the Senate on April 4, 1950, and received commission on April 7, 1950. Service terminated on September 29, 1961, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Nominated by John F. Kennedy on September 14, 1961, to a new seat authorized by 75 Stat. 80. Confirmed by the Senate on September 21, 1961, and received commission on September 22, 1961. Served as chief judge, 1973-1980. Assumed senior status on July 1, 1987. Service terminated on February 1, 1992, due to death.

Education:
Fordham University School of Law, LL.B., 1931

Professional Career:

Private practice, New York City, 1932-1935, 1940-1949
Special assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1935-1939
Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1939-1940
Special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States, 1947-1948
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 1973-1980

Other Nominations/Recess Appointments:

Nominated to U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, October 15, 1949; no Senate vote

Bibliography

Siegel, Martin. Judgment and Mercy: The Turbulent Life and Times of the Judge Who Condemned the Rosenbergs. Three Hills: Ithaca, N.Y., 2023.

Manuscript Collections

Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Irving R. Kaufman papers, 1934-1992.
58.7 linear ft. (43,000 items); finding aid; restricted; collection contains court papers, office and subject files, speeches, writings, and scrapbooks relating chiefly to Kaufman's judicial career.

Portraits

[Judge Irving R. Kaufman, half-length portrait, seated, facing left, after signing order for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to be put to death at Sing-Sing prison]; by Associated Press; Photograph; 1953; New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., ref. #: LC-USZ62-117761.

Judge Irving R. Kaufman; artist unknown; Photograph; Mar. 29, 1951; The Bettmann Archive, Corbis Images, ref. #: BE042831.

Judge Irving R. Kaufman; artist unknown; Photograph; May 4, 1983; The Bettmann Archive, Corbis Images, ref. #: U830625.

Ronald Reagan Presenting Award to Irving R. Kaufman; by Tim Clary; Photograph; Oct. 7, 1987; The Bettmann Archive, Corbis Images, ref. #: U87328097.

Federal Judicial Center

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Kaufman, Irving Robert