Osmond Fraenkel (October 17, 1888 – May 17, 1983) was an American attorney who served asgeneral counsel for theAmerican Civil Liberties Union.[1][2][3][4]
Osmond Kessler Fraenkel was born on October 17, 1888, inNew York City.[4] His parents were Joseph E. Fraenkel and Emily Kessler.[3]
He attended theHorace Mann School. In 1908, he received an A.B. magna cum laude as well as an A.M. fromHarvard College. In 1911, he received an LL.B. fromColumbia Law School.[3][4]
In 1910, Fraenkel was admitted to New York State bar.[3] and entered private practice.[2]
In 1916, Fraenkel joined and became a partner in Goldsmith & Fraenkel. In 1928, the firm became Goldsmith, Jackson & Brock through 1942.[3] In 1942, the firm became Fraenkel, Jackson & Levitt through 1945. In 1945, he became counsel to Hays, St. John, Abramson & Schulman, later Hays, St. John, Abramson & Heilbron through 1981. In 1982, he joinedRabinowitz,Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman through his death in 1983.[2][3]
He served co-counsel to theNew York Civil Liberties Committee from 1934[3] (or 1935[2] ) through 1955, at which time he became general counsel for theAmerican Civil Liberties Union[2] through 1977.[3]
He served as chair of the New York City Welfare Department Hearing Board from 1936 to 1951.[4]
In the 1930s, Fraenkel came to notoriety, first as attorney for theScottsboro boys, then as attorney forHarry Bridges andBertrand Russell.[2] InDe Jonge v. Oregon he defended a client accused ofcriminal syndicalism after this person had spoken at a meeting of the communist party.[2][4]
He defendedConsumers Union's pamphlet oncontraception fromFrank Comerford Walker's opinion that it was obscene.[5]
Other cases argued include:
InUnited States v. Richardson, Fraenkel argued againstSolicitor GeneralRobert H. Bork.
He opposed theMcCarthyism ofJoseph McCarthy.[2] He did legal work for the cases aroundJapanese American internment, thePentagon Papers, andschool prayer in the United States.[2]
Fraenkel was a co-founder of theNational Lawyers Guild and was present at pre-formation meeting in New York City on December 1, 1936.[7]
On December 11, 1913, Fraenkel married Helene Esberg; they had three children: Nancy (Mrs. James A. Wechsler), Carol (Mrs. Mack Lipkin), and George K.[3]
In addition to the National Lawyers Guild, Fraenkel was also a member of Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American Arbitration Association.[3]
Fraenkel died age 94 on May 17, 1983, in New York City while walking to work.[2]
Norman Dorsen andIra Glasser called Fraenkel "one of the giants in contemporary life."[2]
He authored more than 100 books an articles, including a book on theSacco and Vanzetti case.[2]
The Library of Congress catalog lists the following works:
Harvard's catalog on Fraenkel's papers[3] lists three books:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
