The spirit of Nuremberg and Henry T. King, Jr.

• Author: Crane, David M.
• Position: A Tribute to Henry King - Testimonial

I sit here on the grounds of the Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg, more famously known as the Nazi Party parade ground. It is a bright fall afternoon and it is German Unification Day, 2 October 2009. Yesterday was the sixty-third anniversary of the judgments against the leadership of the Nazi Party and their cohorts who felt at home here at Nuremberg wallowing in the excrement of their ideology that ignited a world war that consumed over fifty million human beings. How fitting it is that I write these reflections of my friend and mentor, Henry T. King, Jr. Henry began his journey in the law here at Nuremberg, and when he left he carried a fire in his belly for justice to ensure that the spirit of Nuremberg never died. It was a long journey indeed.

The spirit of Nuremberg--bruised, during the black hole of the Cold War, largely forgotten at times, and challenged to be sure; but the essential premise of Nuremberg that the rights of nations have now been subordinated to the rights of humanity has blossomed and flourished, solidly grounded in law and policy, its jurisprudential roots deep enough to withstand the strong winds of politics and cynicism.

In his final book, Henry reflected upon his life--that fascinating journey he took as an American lawyer, told in a setting he loved dearly, with students at Case Western University School of Law, where he taught for almost three decades. These were ruminations of a man looking back over almost nine decades of life. They were reflections in some cases, facts in others, all with a focus on his love of the law, in some cases at some cost to his family life.

Many times as I reviewed his comments, I recalled the times he and I would sit and chat about professional and personnel matters. His infectious chuckle, deep within him, would make you smile, relax, and unwind, bringing a certain comfort. He was remarkably gifted in, not just his understanding of the law, but, most importantly, in just being a friend, a colleague, a mentor. He truly was a hail fellow well met, indeed.

HENRY ON THE LAW--TITHING FOR HUMANITY

It resounded to me in terms of ethics that lawyers have to be people who believe in progress and are willing to work to achieve it, and who were willing to tithe for humanity, not just be totally selfish.

Henry made this comment in his reflections and, in my mind, it was the central core to his feelings toward the law and how a lawyer should practice that law. Implicit in the comment was his strong...