Cornell, Julien D., 1910-

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Julien Cornell (1910-1994) was educated at Swarthmore and Yale Law School (Law 1993). A member of the Society of Friends, he defended conscientious objectors during World War II and served as the defense counsel for Pound during the initial stages of his treason trial and competency hearing. Cornell published several works, including The Trial of Ezra Pound (1966).

From the description of Julien Cornell papers relating to Ezra Pound, 1945-1965. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702171575

From the description of Julien Cornell papers relating to Ezra Pound, 1945-1965. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80503601

Julien Cornell was born in Brooklyn in 1910 and graduated from Swarthmore College in 1930. He received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1933 and opened a practice in Manhattan shortly thereafter.

A member of the Society of Friends, Cornell had a strong interest in civil liberties law, and during World War II he handled many cases for conscientious objectors to the draft. He was Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union National Lawyers National Committee on Conscientious Objection (ACLU-NCCO) and served as chair of the Lawyers Committee of the Metropolitan Board for Conscientious Objectors. During this time, Cornell published The Conscientious Objector and the Law (1943), and Conscience and the State (1945), and served as an expert consultant on the issue of conscientious objection and assignment to alternate service in the CPS (Civilian Public Service).

In November 1945, his friend James Laughlin of New Directions Press contacted him and asked him if he would be willing to represent Ezra Pound, who had been arrested in Italy and charged with treason for broadcasts he made over Rome Radio in 1942 and 1943. Public opinion was strongly against Pound, but Cornell agreed, as he "always enjoyed fighting for the underdog" and did not consider that the speeches met the American legal standard for treason. After meeting with Pound, however, and consulting with several of his old friends, Cornell resolved to enter a plea of insanity for his client. Hearings were held and expert witnesses retained, and on February 13, 1946, a jury impanelled by Judge Bolitha Laws returned a verdict of "unsound mind." While Cornell had hoped to secure Pound's release on bail once he had been adjudged insane, Pound was remanded to Federal custody at St. Elizabeth's Federal Hospital for the Insane in Washington, D.C., where he remained until August 1958.

Cornell moved his law practice to Central Valley, New Jersey in 1950, but continued to offer legal and strategic advice to Pound and his representatives. He was the author of New World Primer (1947), which advocated a world federal government and was published by Laughlin's New Directions Press; The Trial of Ezra Pound (1966), which reproduced a selection of the legal documents relating to the Pound case; and A Tale of Treasure Trove (1977), a collection of essays that included "The Last Years of Ezra Pound," a restatement of Cornell's personal belief in Pound's insanity.

Julien Cornell married Virginia Scratton in 1932; the couple had two sons and two daughters, all of whom survived him. After his retirement from active practice, he traveled extensively in Europe and continued to pursue his interests in local history and home winemaking. Cornell died in Goshen, New York, on December 2, 1994.

From the guide to the Julien Cornell papers relating to Ezra Pound, 1945-1965, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
creatorOf Cornell, Julien D., 1910-. Papers, 1940-1948. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
creatorOf Wyllie, John Cook, 1908-1968,. Collection : concerning Ezra Pound, 1943-1957. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Oswald Garrison Villard papers Houghton Library
creatorOf National Committee on Conscientious Objectors (U.S.). Records, 1940-1946. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Additional papers, 1917-1962 and undated. Houghton Library
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Letter to Julien Cornell, 1951 January 5. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Hindus, Milton. Letters : Chicago, Ill. to Julien Cornell, 1947 February-April. Haverford College Library
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Ezra Pound papers : addition, 1862-1983, 1960-1971 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Papers, 1870-1969 Houghton Library
creatorOf Alden, John Eliot, 1914-1991. Ezra Pound research collection, 1916-1948. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Freddy Homburger Papers, 1926-1990, (bulk 1941-1989) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Julien Cornell papers relating to Ezra Pound, 1945-1965 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972. Ezra Pound collection, [ca. 1906-1958]. California Digital Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962 person
associatedWith Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. person
associatedWith Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. person
associatedWith Hindus, Milton. person
associatedWith Homburger, Freddy. person
correspondedWith Homburger, Freddy. person
associatedWith Laughlin, James, 1914-1997. person
associatedWith Laws, Bolitha. person
associatedWith Laws, Bolitha. person
associatedWith Moore, Arthur V. person
associatedWith Moore, Arthur V. person
associatedWith Moore, Arthur V. person
associatedWith Muncie, Wendell, 1897- person
associatedWith National Committee on Conscientious Objectors (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Overholser, Winfred, 1892-1964. person
associatedWith Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. person
associatedWith Pound, Dorothy. person
associatedWith Pound, Dorothy. person
associatedWith Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972 person
associatedWith Pound, Omar S. person
associatedWith Pound, Omar S. person
associatedWith Rachewiltz, Mary de. person
associatedWith Rudge, Olga, 1895- person
associatedWith Rudge, Olga, 1895-1996. person
associatedWith Saint Elizabeths Hospital (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Alien Property Custodian. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of the Attorney General. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Justice. Office of the Attorney General. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (District of Columbia) corporateBody
correspondedWith Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949 person
associatedWith Wyllie, John Cook, 1908-1968, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
Subject
American literature
Alien property
Alien property
Poets, American
Competency to stand trial
Competency to stand trial
Forensic psychiatry
Forensic psychiatry
Treason
Treason
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1910

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