Harry Sacher (c. 1902 – May 22, 1963) was an American attorney best known for his work on behalf of Communist political figures.[1] Sacher was the named petitioner in three United States Supreme Court cases. He also worked as an attorney and organizer with the Transport Workers Union of America[2][3]

Significant cases

Communist Trials

See Smith Act trials of Communist Party leaders. Sacher represented Irving Potash, Benjamin J. Davis Jr., and John Gates in a 1949 trial for charges of conspiring to overthrow the United States[4] Time wrote that Sacher "looked like a Dead End Kid" and "insinuated at one point that Judge Medina was prejudicing the trial".[5]

Sacher v. United States (1952)

See Sacher v. United States Sacher was convicted of Contempt of Court by Judge Harold Medina and sentenced to six months in jail. He appealed Judge Medina's action, leading to a 5-3 decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the sanction.[6] His six month sentence was, along with Richard Gladstein's, the longest sentence handed down for Contempt in the trial.[7]

Sacher v. Association of the Bar of the City of New York (1954)

Sacher was disbarred after his representation of Potash, Davis Jr., and Gates.[8] He sued, and the Supreme Court held that his disbarment was an abuse of discretion.[9]

Sacher v. United States (1958)

Sacher was one of several suspected Communists subpoenaed by the United States Senate Subcommittee on Internal Security. He answered questions, but was convicted of contempt nonetheless.[10] The Supreme Court held in a 6-2 per curiam opinion that Sacher's indictment for contempt of Congress did not meet the minimum pleading requirements under 2 U.S.C. § 192.[11] Justices Clark and Whittaker dissented.

Personal life

Sacher was married to Tolbie Sacher, a musician and collaborator of Abel Meeropol.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Harry Sacher, Lawyer, Dead; Reds' Counsel Defied Senators May 23, 1963 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/05/23/90532836.html?pageNumber=35
  2. ↑ "Transport Workers Union of America: Locals Records". New York University. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Sheehan Ginn, Eileen O'Donnell (2009). "Organizing Transit: The Irish and the TWU" (PDF). New York Irish History. 23: 8. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Han, Yesol. "Defining American Freedoms: Jurists Respond to the American Communist Party Trial". psu.edu. Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "COMMUNISTS: I Tell You ... Stop It!". Time. February 14, 1949. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sacher v. United States, 343 U.S. 1 (1952)".
  7. ↑ Report on the National Lawyers Guild -- Legal Bulwark of the Communist Party United States House Committee on Un-American Activities. House Report No. 3123. September 17, 1950. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/media/publications/us_house_report_on_nlg_and_communist_party_1950.pdf
  8. ↑ Moliterno, James E. (2005). "Politically Motivated Bar Discipline". Washington University Law Review. 83 (3): 737. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Dawson, Archie O. (1955). "The Outstanding Decisions of the United States Supreme Court in 1954". Fordham Law Review. 24 (2): 187. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sacher Answered Eastland Committee Questions Found Guilty Anyhow". Vol. 9, no. 27. Hawaii Record. January 31, 1957. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sacher v. United States, 356 U.S. 576 (1958)". Justia.org.
  12. ↑ Kovaleff Baker, Nancy (Spring 2002). "Abel Meeropol (a.k.a. Lewis Allan): Political Commentator and Social Conscience". American Music. 20 (1): 33. doi:10.2307/3052242. JSTOR 3052242. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Harry Sacher, Lawyer, Dead; Reds' Counsel Defied Senators May 23, 1963 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/05/23/90532836.html?pageNumber=35
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