William Joseph Campbell
Encyclopedia
Hon. William Joseph Campbell (March 19, 1905 – October 19, 1988) was a United States federal judge
and the longest serving Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
. In 1970 the Library of the United States Courts of the Seventh Circuit was named "The William J. Campbell Library of the United States Courts.". Judge Campbell's son is the former five-term U.S. Representative Tom Campbell
of California.
in 1926 and an LL.M. 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 Practce 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.
An early supporter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Campbell formed the Young Democrats for Roosevelt in 1932. For his efforts he was named Illinois administrator for the president's National Youth Administration
in 1935 where he served until 1938 when he38 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.
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
created by 54 Stat. 219. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 7, 1940, and received his commission on October 10, 1940. Early in his time on the bench he conducted one of the few treason
trials ever held in the United States.
He served as chief judge of the court from 1959 to 1970, assuming senior status
on March 19, 1970. While continuing his federal judicial service in this capacity, he was also assistant director of the Federal Judicial Center
from 1971 until his death, in 1988, in West Palm Beach, Florida
.
When Supreme Court justice Felix Frankfurter
died in 1965, many thought Campbell was certain to be appointed to the Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson
. Johnson instead chose Abe Fortas
, who resigned four years later. When asked about the missed opportunity many years later, Campbell said, "Although I knew Johnson intimately and personally, he was bigoted enough not to want two Catholics on the Supreme Court."
In 1965, Campbell took on Chicago kingpin Sam Giancana
. When Giancana was asked to testify before a Chicago Grand Jury
, he invoked his fifth amendment right
to remain silent. Campbell granted Giancana immunity from prosecution and ordered him to testify. After Giancana refused, he spent the next year in jail on contempt charges.
At the time of his death, he was the longest-tenured federal judge in the United States.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
and the longest serving Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
. In 1970 the Library of the United States Courts of the Seventh Circuit was named "The William J. Campbell Library of the United States Courts.". Judge Campbell's son is the former five-term U.S. Representative Tom Campbell
Tom Campbell
Thomas John "Tom" Campbell is the Dean of Chapman University School of Law, a former five-term Republican United States Congressman from California's 12th and 15th districts, a former professor at Stanford Law School, a former dean of the Haas School of Business, and a former professor of business...
of California.
Early life
William Joseph Campbell was born in Chicago, and was a graduate of St. Rita High School. He received an J.D. degree from Loyola UniversityLoyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
in 1926 and an LL.M. 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 Practce 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
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
. It was at this time that Campbell first got involved in Chicago Democratic politics.
An early supporter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Campbell formed the Young Democrats for Roosevelt in 1932. For his efforts he was named Illinois administrator for the president's National Youth Administration
National Youth Administration
The National Youth Administration was a New Deal agency in the United States that focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. It operated from 1935 to 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration . Following the passage of the Reorganization Act of...
in 1935 where he served until 1938 when he38 he was designated 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...
for the Northern District of Illinois where he served until 1940. As a federal prosecutor, he helped convict Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
of tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and challenged the city's political leaders and their system of influence.
Judge
On September 24, 1940, Campbell was nominated by President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
created by 54 Stat. 219. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on October 7, 1940, and received his commission on October 10, 1940. Early in his time on the bench he conducted one of the few treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
trials ever held in the United States.
He served as chief judge of the court from 1959 to 1970, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 19, 1970. While continuing his federal judicial service in this capacity, he was also assistant director of the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
from 1971 until his death, in 1988, in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
.
When Supreme Court justice Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.-Early life:Frankfurter was born into a Jewish family on November 15, 1882, in Vienna, Austria, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Europe. He was the third of six children of Leopold and Emma Frankfurter...
died in 1965, many thought Campbell was certain to be appointed to the Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. Johnson instead chose Abe Fortas
Abe Fortas
Abraham Fortas was a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice from 1965 to 1969. Originally from Tennessee, Fortas became a law professor at Yale, and subsequently advised the Securities and Exchange Commission. He then worked at the Interior Department under Franklin D...
, who resigned four years later. When asked about the missed opportunity many years later, Campbell said, "Although I knew Johnson intimately and personally, he was bigoted enough not to want two Catholics on the Supreme Court."
In 1965, Campbell took on Chicago kingpin Sam Giancana
Sam Giancana
Salvatore Giancana , better known as Sam Giancana, was a Sicilian-American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1957-1966...
. When Giancana was asked to testify before a Chicago Grand Jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
, he invoked his fifth amendment right
Taking the Fifth
The Self-Incrimination Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "no person . . . shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."...
to remain silent. Campbell granted Giancana immunity from prosecution and ordered him to testify. After Giancana refused, he spent the next year in jail on contempt charges.
At the time of his death, he was the longest-tenured federal judge in the United States.
Discrepancies During Career
Although Campbell is regarded as a forefather in the state of today's justice system, he has been criticized by some prominent investigative persons for his actions. In 1947, General Motors and a number of its allies in the scheme to buy out all trolley systems in the U.S., using a number of front corporations (thereby wiping out railway competition with vehicle competition), were indicted on federal anti-trust charges.* Two years later the workings were exposed during a trial in Chicago.* The investigative journalist Jonathan Kwitny later argued that the case was ``A fine example of what can happen when important matters of public policy are abandoned by government to the self-interest of corporations.``* Judge William J.Campbell was not so outraged. As punishment, he ordered GM and the other companies to pay a fine of 5,000$ each.* The executives were fined 1$ each.* The actions by GM and its allies illegally created zero competition and opened the automobile production to America without further challenge (see below for references).Award and Honors
- Silver Buffalo AwardSilver Buffalo AwardThe Silver Buffalo Award is the national-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis, either as part of, or independent of the Scouting program...
, 1946 - Loyola University; LL.D. 1955
- Lincoln College; LL.D. 1960
- Duquesne College; Litt.D., 1965
- Barat College; J.C.D. 1966
- Chicagoan of the Year in 1965
- Lincoln Laureate in Law in 1970.
- Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, 1986.