Court Could Not Give Mercy

Judge Kaufman presided at the trial of the Russian spies, the Rosenberg’s. They were charged with and convicted of treason against the United States and sentenced to death.

In his summation at the end of the long and bitter trial, the lawyer for the Rosenberg’s said animatedly, “Your Honor, what my clients ask for is justice.”

Judge Kaufman replied calmly, “The court has given what you ask for—justice! What you really want is mercy. But that is something this court has no right to give.”