Sean Smith

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the International Military Tribunal, Crime Story presents a new series, NUREMBERG. Sean Smith examines the many dimensions of the historic judicial proceedings. Drawing on official transcripts of the trial, as well as a vast bibliography of first- and second-hand accounts, NUREMBERG tells the stories behind the legal, political and personal struggles which complicated this revolutionary exercise in international jurisprudence. You can find previous episodes of our Nuremberg series here. As Robert Jackson lays out the prosecution’s case before the International Military Tribunal on November 21, 1945, he addresses two audiences. One is world opinion or, in Jackson’s formulation, Civilization....

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR  To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the International Military Tribunal, Crime Story presents a new series, NUREMBERG. Sean Smith examines the many dimensions of the historic judicial proceedings. Drawing on official transcripts of the trial, as well as a vast bibliography of first- and second-hand accounts, NUREMBERG tells the stories behind the legal, political and personal struggles which complicated this revolutionary exercise in international jurisprudence. You can find Part 1 of our Nuremberg series here. November 21, 1945 When Robert Jackson lays down his opening statement on the podium and glances up at the eight judges, he’s struck by...

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR  To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the International Military Tribunal, Crime Story presents a new series, NUREMBERG. Sean Smith examines the many dimensions of the historic judicial proceedings. Drawing on official transcripts of the trial, as well as a vast bibliography of first- and second-hand accounts, NUREMBERG tells the stories behind the legal, political and personal struggles which complicated this revolutionary exercise in international jurisprudence.  NUREMBERG Today marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the International Military Tribunal held in Nuremberg, Germany. For ten months beginning in the Fall of 1945, amid the rubble of that once...

WEEK 19 (JULY 19-25)  Sean Smith presents the final installment — Part 19 — of his week by week analysis of the news stories aggregated in Crime Story Daily related to COVID-19 and our carceral system. You can find links to each of Sean’s analysis pieces here. This article covers the week beginning July 19. On Saturday, Florida reported 12,523 new cases of COVID-19, marking that state’s fifth day in a row with more than 10,000 new infections. This was especially troubling news for the Trump campaign, with the Republican National Convention slated to gather in Jacksonville in just over a month. In a...

Sean Smith presents Part 18 of his week by week analysis of the news stories aggregated in Crime Story Daily related to COVID-19 and our carceral system. You can find links to each of Sean’s analysis pieces here. This article covers the week beginning July 12. WEEK 18 (JULY 12-18)  The coronavirus surge attributed to Fourth of July celebrations persisted into Week 18. On Sunday, July 12, the U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpassed 135,000, out of nearly 3.3 million total cases. Also on Sunday, Florida reported 15,300 new cases, setting a single-day record for any state. As California and other states rolled back business...

Sean Smith presents Part 17 of his week by week analysis of the news stories aggregated in Crime Story Daily related to COVID-19 and our carceral system. You can find links to each of Sean’s analysis pieces here. This article covers the week beginning July 5. WEEK 17 (JULY 5-11) New daily cases of COVID-19 in the US hit 48,606 Sunday, July 5, setting a record high for the 27th day in a row. Many faulted premature business reopenings throughout the South and Southwest. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego rued, “We opened way too early in Arizona.” Unexpected demand for tests prompted two major diagnostic...