William Christianson
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
In office
March 1946 – January 1947
Appointed byEdward John Thye
Preceded byLuther Youngdahl
Personal details
Born
William Christian Christianson

December 5, 1892
Moody County, South Dakota, U.S.
DiedMay 27, 1985 (aged 92)
Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationHighland Park College (BA)
University of Chicago (JD)

William Christian Christianson (December 5, 1892 – May 27, 1985) was an American jurist. He was one of the judges at the Nuremberg Military Tribunals.[1]

Early life and education

Christianson was born in Moody County, South Dakota. He was the son of Christian O. Christianson (1857–1937) and Karen (Holter) Christianson (1862–1936).[2] Christianson went to school in Austin, Minnesota, and Jasper, Minnesota. He earned a bachelor's degree from Highland Park College and then received his Juris Doctor from University of Chicago Law School in 1920.

Career

Christianson was assistant county attorney for Goodhue County, Minnesota and Red Wing, Minnesota city attorney. Christianson served on the Minnesota Supreme Court from March 1946 to January 1947. In 1948 and 1949, Christianson was one of the judges of the Subsequent Nuremberg trials. In 1949, Christianson was appointed a Minnesota District Court judge for the first district and served until his retirement in 1963.[3][4][5][6]

Personal life

Christianson was married to Myrtle Lorenz who died in 1977. Christianson died in Red Wing, Minnesota, in 1985. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Goodhue County, Minnesota.[7]

References

  1. ^ "W.C. Christianson Dies at 92; Judge on Nuremberg Tribunal". New York Times Company. May 30, 1985. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "William Christian Christianson, born 5 Dec 1892". Moody County, South Dakota Birth Records. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "Nuremberg trial judge's papers sent to Holocaust museum". Associated Press. 1998. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ^ William C. Christianson (Minnesota State Law Library)
  5. ^ William C. Christianson-obituary
  6. ^ "William Christianson, Nuremberg Judge, Dies". Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1985. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "Justice William C. Christianson Obituary" (PDF). Star Tribune. May 28, 1985. Retrieved May 1, 2016.


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