Irving Younger
Encyclopedia
Irving Younger (November 30, 1932 – March 13, 1988) was an American
lawyer, law professor, judge, and writer. He is well known among lawyers and law students for his exciting talks on effective trial advocacy and legal history.
and attended high school at the Bronx High School of Science
, followed by undergraduate studies at Harvard University
, from which he graduated in 1953. After serving for two years in the United States Army
, Younger obtained his Juris Doctor
degree from New York University Law School in 1958. He was married to Judith T. Younger (née Weintraub), who is also a lawyer and law professor.
After graduating from law school, Younger worked briefly as a litigation associate at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
, before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney
in the Southern District of New York. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Younger handled criminal trials and appeals. Younger's most famous case as a prosecutor was the trial of singer Pete Seeger
for contempt of Congress
after Seeger refused to answer questions about alleged Communist Party
membership and activities. Seeger was convicted and sentenced to prison, but the Court of Appeals
reversed the conviction on a technicality; Younger reports in his autobiography, Some of My Life, that he was not upset when that occurred. After several years in the U.S. Attorney's office, Younger opened a practice as a private defense lawyer, partnering with his wife and handling a wide variety of cases.
In 1968, Younger was unexpectedly elected as a judge of the New York City Civil Court
, a lower-level trial court, from a district in Manhattan, running on the Democratic
, Liberal
, and Conservative party lines. As a judge, Younger presided over both civil and criminal cases and authored more than a dozen published opinions.
In 1974, Younger resigned from his judgeship to move upstate, accepting a professorship (the Samuel S. Leibowitz Professor of Trial Techniques) at the Cornell University Law School. From 1981 to 1984, Younger was a member of the Washington, D.C.
law firm of Williams & Connolly
, and from 1984 until his death in 1988, he was a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School
. Younger specialized in the fields of evidence
law and trial advocacy, and authored casebooks and training materials for lawyers in these subjects. His legal textbook Principles of Evidence, originally co-authored with Michael Goldsmith
and more recently also with David Sonenshein, is currently in its 5th edition. He was a well-known lecturer to audiences of lawyers and law students, and almost twenty years after his death, tapes of his continuing legal education talks remain in frequent use, prized for their wit and theatrics as well as their substance and insight.
For several years, Younger authored a column on improving legal writing. He was also an avid legal historian, and his articles and lectures on the trial of alleged perjurer Alger Hiss
, the story behind the case of Erie Railroad v. Tompkins, and the obscenity prosecution
of James Joyce
's book Ulysses
are still read.
Younger died of pancreatic cancer
in 1988, at the age of 55.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, law professor, judge, and writer. He is well known among lawyers and law students for his exciting talks on effective trial advocacy and legal history.
Biography
Younger was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and attended high school at the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
, followed by undergraduate studies at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, from which he graduated in 1953. After serving for two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Younger obtained his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from New York University Law School in 1958. He was married to Judith T. Younger (née Weintraub), who is also a lawyer and law professor.
After graduating from law school, Younger worked briefly as a litigation associate at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a law firm headquartered on Sixth Avenue in New York City. The firm has well-noted expertise in its corporate, personal representation, entertainment law and litigation practices, having long been a leader among national litigation firms...
, before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in the Southern District of New York. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Younger handled criminal trials and appeals. Younger's most famous case as a prosecutor was the trial of singer Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
for contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. Historically the bribery of a senator or representative was considered contempt of Congress...
after Seeger refused to answer questions about alleged Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
membership and activities. Seeger was convicted and sentenced to prison, but the Court of Appeals
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
reversed the conviction on a technicality; Younger reports in his autobiography, Some of My Life, that he was not upset when that occurred. After several years in the U.S. Attorney's office, Younger opened a practice as a private defense lawyer, partnering with his wife and handling a wide variety of cases.
In 1968, Younger was unexpectedly elected as a judge of the New York City Civil Court
New York City Civil Court
The New York City Civil Court is a court hearing civil cases within New York City. By volume, it is the largest civil jurisdiction court in the United States, and handles about 25% of the total filings of the entire New York state court system.-Jurisdiction:...
, a lower-level trial court, from a district in Manhattan, running on the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Liberal
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
, and Conservative party lines. As a judge, Younger presided over both civil and criminal cases and authored more than a dozen published opinions.
In 1974, Younger resigned from his judgeship to move upstate, accepting a professorship (the Samuel S. Leibowitz Professor of Trial Techniques) at the Cornell University Law School. From 1981 to 1984, Younger was a member of the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
law firm of Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly
Williams & Connolly LLP is a prominent litigation firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique....
, and from 1984 until his death in 1988, he was a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
. Younger specialized in the fields of evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
law and trial advocacy, and authored casebooks and training materials for lawyers in these subjects. His legal textbook Principles of Evidence, originally co-authored with Michael Goldsmith
Michael Goldsmith
Michael Goldsmith was a law professor at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.- Early life and education :Michael Goldsmith was born March 6, 1951 in Tel Aviv, Israel and immigrated to the United States of America with his family in June 1955...
and more recently also with David Sonenshein, is currently in its 5th edition. He was a well-known lecturer to audiences of lawyers and law students, and almost twenty years after his death, tapes of his continuing legal education talks remain in frequent use, prized for their wit and theatrics as well as their substance and insight.
For several years, Younger authored a column on improving legal writing. He was also an avid legal historian, and his articles and lectures on the trial of alleged perjurer Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, government official, author, and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations both as a U.S. State Department and U.N. official...
, the story behind the case of Erie Railroad v. Tompkins, and the obscenity prosecution
United States v. One Book Called Ulysses
United States v. One Book Called Ulysses was a 1933 case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dealing with freedom of expression. At issue was whether James Joyce's novel Ulysses was obscene. In deciding it was not, Judge John M...
of James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's book Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
are still read.
Younger died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in 1988, at the age of 55.
Work experience
- Private law firm in New York(1958-1960)
- Assistant US Attorney (1960-1962)
- Opened his own law firm with his wife
- Civil court judge in New York City (1969-1974)
- Concurrently taught law at NYU
- Cornell Law faculty (1974-1981)
- Private Law firm in Washington, DC (Williams and Connelly) (1981-1984)
- Law professor at University of Minnesota (1984-1988)
The 10 Commandments of Cross Examination
- Be brief.
- Short questions, plain words.
- Always ask leading questions.
- Don't ask a question to which you do not know the answer.
- Listen to the witness' answers.
- Don't quarrel with the witness.
- Don't allow the witness to repeat his direct testimony.
- Don't permit the witness to explain his answers.
- Don't ask the "one question too many."
- Save the ultimate point of your cross for summation.