John Finerty papers , 1910-1961

John F. Finerty was born in Chicago in 1885. He received his law degree from Northwestern University and practiced railroad law, serving as general counsel for the Great Northern Railway and the United States Railroad Administration. He had private practices in Washington and New York City and was involved in many controversial cases.

In the 1920s he argued the last writ of habeas corpus for Sacco and Vanzetti. In the 1930s he counseled in the appeal of Thomas J. Mooney. He served as special counsel to the Commission of Inquiry into the Moscow Trials and took testimony from Leon Trotsky. He was also involved as a friend of the court after the conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Finerty was involved in civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union; the Workers Defense League, where he was awarded the Clendenin Award for distinguished service; the Tresca Memorial Committee; the NAACP; the Keep America Out of War Congress, Inc.; and the Committee Against Jim Crow in Military Service and Training.

John F. Finerty was married to Catherine Palmer Finerty nee Mitchell and they had several children. Finerty was involved in various personal organizations pertaining to hunting and yachting, and enjoyed writing poetry, some of which was published. He died on June 4, 1967 and is buried at the Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont, California.