Harry Sacher (lawyer)

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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[edit]

Communist Trials[edit]

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)[edit]

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)[edit]

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)[edit]

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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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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