Whitman Knapp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitman Knapp
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office November 23, 1987 – June 14, 2004 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office June 30, 1972 – November 23, 1987 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Walter R. Mansfield |
| Succeeded by | Robert P. Patterson Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Percy Whitman Knapp
February 24, 1909 New York City, New York |
| Died | June 14, 2004 (aged 95) New York City, New York |
| Education | Yale University (B.A.) Harvard Law School (LL.B.) |
Percy Whitman Knapp (born February 24, 1909 – died June 14, 2004) was an important judge in the United States. Before becoming a judge, he led a big investigation into problems within the New York City Police Department from 1970 to 1972.
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Early Life and Education
Whitman Knapp was born on February 24, 1909, in New York City, New York. His father, Wallace Percy Knapp, was a successful lawyer.
Whitman went to The Browning School and The Choate School. He then studied at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931. After Yale, he attended Harvard Law School. He was an editor for the Harvard Law Review and graduated in 1934 with a law degree. Soon after, he married Elizabeth Mercer.
Whitman Knapp's Legal Career
After finishing law school, Whitman Knapp started working at a law firm in Manhattan. In 1937, he became an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan. He worked for Thomas E. Dewey, who was known for fighting crime.
Knapp returned to private law in 1941. But soon, he was asked to come back to public service. He served as an assistant district attorney again from 1942 to 1950. After that, he worked in private law until he became a federal judge in 1972.
He also helped revise New York State's criminal laws. From 1953 to 1954, he worked for the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. This group looked into issues at the city's docks.
The Knapp Commission Investigation
In 1970, John V. Lindsay, the Mayor of New York City, asked Whitman Knapp to lead a special group. This group, later called the Knapp Commission, investigated problems within the New York City Police Department.
The investigation started because two police officers, Frank Serpico and David Durk, spoke out. Looking back, Knapp felt that the commission's main success was not just about catching people. He believed it changed how the police department viewed and dealt with problems within its ranks.
Becoming a Federal Judge
On June 15, 1972, President Richard Nixon chose Whitman Knapp to be a judge. He was to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The United States Senate approved his nomination on June 28, 1972. He officially became a judge on June 30, 1972.
In 1987, he took on a "senior status" role. This meant he still worked as a judge but with a reduced caseload. He continued to serve on the court until his death.
Later Life and Passing
Whitman Knapp passed away on June 14, 2004, in New York City. He was 95 years old. He continued to work as a judge right up until his death.
He was survived by his third wife, Ann Fallert Knapp. He also had a son, Gregory Wallace Knapp. From his first marriage, he had another son, Whitman E. Knapp, and two daughters, Caroline Hines and Marion Knapp. He also had five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Images for kids
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Whitman Knapp
See also
In Spanish: Whitman Knapp para niños
