Vincent de Moro-Giafferi facts for kids
Vincent de Moro-Giafferi was a famous French lawyer. He was born in Paris on June 6, 1878, and passed away in 1956. He became well-known for defending people in court.
Moro-Giafferi was very young when he started his law career. He was only 24 years old when he joined the group of lawyers in Paris. He was also active in politics. At 31, he became a Deputy for Corsica in the French National Assembly in 1919. He was part of the Radical Socialist Party. He strongly supported the French leader Pierre Mendès France. He served as a Deputy from 1919 to 1928. Later, he joined the Rally of Left Republicans from 1946 to 1956.
Early Life and Military Service
Moro-Giafferi's family came from Corse. During World War I, he served in the French army. He was honored for his service. He received the Croix de Guerre and was an officer of the Legion of Honor. These are important awards for bravery.
A Famous Lawyer
Moro-Giafferi was one of the most famous lawyers of his time. People from all over the world knew about him. He was known for being an amazing speaker. When he was in court, the room would be full. Other lawyers and the public came to watch him. They wanted to see his incredible skills.
One time in 1913, he won a case for a client. Many people thought the client was guilty. After this, some lawyers even wondered if the jury system was fair. This shows how powerful his words were.
Important Cases
Moro-Giafferi is most remembered for a case that never went to trial. He was asked to defend Herschel Grynszpan. Grynszpan was accused of a serious crime. This event had big effects on the world. It led to a terrible event called Kristallnacht in Germany. Moro-Giafferi was getting ready for the defense. But then, Germany invaded France.
He also defended other well-known people. He defended Henri Désiré Landru, but this was the only case he ever lost. He also defended former Prime Minister Joseph Caillaux. Caillaux was accused of dealing with the enemy during World War I. Another client was Lucien Sampaix. Sampaix was a news editor for the newspaper L'Humanité. He was accused of spying.
While preparing to defend Grynszpan, Moro-Giafferi received many threats. An American journalist named Dorothy Thompson helped raise money for Grynszpan's defense.
