Joseph B. Keenan facts for kids
Joseph Berry Keenan (born 1888, died 1954) was an important American lawyer. He is most famous for being the main prosecutor at a special court called the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. This court dealt with serious crimes after World War II. Before this, he worked for President Franklin D. Roosevelt as an Assistant Attorney General.
Contents
Joseph Keenan's Early Life
Joseph Keenan was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on January 11, 1888. He went to Brown University and finished in 1910. Later, he earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1913. During World War I, Keenan served in France. After the war, he joined the Judge Advocate General's Corps, which is the legal branch of the military.
Keenan's Legal Career
Fighting Organized Crime
In 1919, Keenan became a special assistant to the Ohio Attorney General. His job was to help fight against organized crime groups. Later, in 1933, the U.S. Attorney General, Homer Stille Cummings, asked Keenan to join the U.S. Department of Justice. He helped the government deal with a big wave of organized crime across America. During this time, Keenan led important cases against famous criminals.
Working for President Roosevelt
In January 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose Keenan to be an Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. In this role, he helped connect the White House with Congress. He worked on new laws, especially those about kidnapping and organized crime. Keenan played a big part in writing the Federal Kidnapping Act. This law was created to help prevent serious crimes.
Chief Prosecutor in Tokyo
In November 1945, President Harry S. Truman appointed Keenan as the main prosecutor for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. This court is also known as the Tokyo Tribunal. As the Chief Prosecutor, Keenan led the effort to investigate and bring to justice leaders from Japan. These leaders were accused of serious actions during World War II. He helped prosecute 28 high-ranking people, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo.
Later Life and Legacy
Joseph Keenan passed away in 1954 in Asheboro, North Carolina. He is remembered for his important work as a lawyer and prosecutor.
See also
- List of people from Rhode Island
