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

Early life and education

Christianson was born in

Moody County, South Dakota Moody County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,336 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Flandreau. The county is named for Gideon C. Moody. Geography Moody County lies on the east side of ...

. He was the son of Christian O. Christianson (1857–1937) and Karen (Holter) Christianson (1862–1936). Christianson went to school in

Austin, Minnesota Austin is a city in and the county seat of Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 26,174 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The town was originally settled along the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River and has ...

, and

Jasper, Minnesota Jasper is a city in Pipestone and Rock counties in the State of Minnesota. The population was 633 at the 2010 census. Most of the city lies in Pipestone County, with only a small part of the city extending into Rock County. History Jasper wa ...

. He earned a bachelor's degree from

Highland Park College Highland Park College was a college located in Des Moines, Iowa. History Founded by a local business syndicate, Highland Park opened its doors in 1890. At the time, Highland Park was an emerging northern suburb of the capital city. Enrollment cl ...

and then received his

Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

from

University of Chicago Law School The University of Chicago Law School is the Law school in the United States, law school of the University of Chicago, a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. It employs more than 180 full-time and part-time facul ...

in 1920.

Career

Christianson was assistant county attorney for

Goodhue County, Minnesota Goodhue County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 47,582. Its county seat is Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing. Nearly all of Prairie Island ...

and

Red Wing, Minnesota Red Wing is a city in and the county seat of Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, along the upper Mississippi River. The population was 16,547 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropo ...

city attorney. Christianson served on the

Minnesota Supreme Court The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The court hears cases in the Supreme Court chamber in the Minnesota State Capitol or in the nearby Minnesota Judicial Center. History The court was first assemb ...

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.

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

References

1892 births 1985 deaths People from Red Wing, Minnesota People from Moody County, South Dakota University of Chicago Law School alumni Minnesota state court judges Justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court Judges of the United States Nuremberg Military Tribunals American Lutherans American people of Norwegian descent 20th-century Minnesota state court judges 20th-century Lutherans {{Minnesota-politician-stub