Background
Cooper, Irving Ben was born on February 7, 1902 in London, England. Son of Max and Rachel (Shimansky) Cooper. came to the United States, 1912, naturalized, 1921.
Cooper, Irving Ben was born on February 7, 1902 in London, England. Son of Max and Rachel (Shimansky) Cooper. came to the United States, 1912, naturalized, 1921.
Bachelor of Laws, Washington University, 1925.
He also held the position of Chief Justice in the New York Court of Special Sessions from 1951 to 1960, during which time he wrote yearly reports on the problems regarding the treatment of young offenders in the criminal justice system, asserting "lieutenant is not impossible for a sentence to be a greater injustice than the criminal act: equivalent to putting a child with a common cold into a smallpox ward for treatment."
Cooper received his Bachelor of Laws from Washington University School of Law in 1925. His professional career included a private practice in New York City from 1927 to 1938, the position of Special counsel in the New York City Department of Investigation from 1934 to 1937. He was a New York City magistrate from 1938 to 1939, and an Associate Justice in the New York Court of Special Sessions from 1939 to 1951.
From 1960 to 1961, he was a lecturer for the Menninger Foundation.
Cooper"s nomination to the Federal Bench was controversial. Attorney General Herbert Brownell spoke out and said, "If there was ever a justice who was not deserving of this appointment, I submit it is Irving Ben Cooper.".
Trustee Reconstructionist Foundation. Member American Judicature Society, Association Bar City New York, New York County Lawyers Association, American Bar Association (chairman commission on sentencing, probation and parole 1957-1961) M C.
Married Anita Bennett, March 28, 1929. Children— Richard Bennett, Benita H. (Mistress Theodore Lee Marks).