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Norman Birkett (1883-1962) was a barrister, judge and politician, who served as the deputy British judge during the Nuremberg Trials. His career began as a criminal defense lawyer, before sitting as Liberal MP
for Nottingham East in 1923 and again in 1929.
In October 1941, Birkett was offered a position on the High Court of Justice, serving as Justice of the High Court until 1950. In august 1945, the Lord Chancellor asked him to serve as the British judge at the
Nuremberg Trials of the Nazi war criminals. However, he was informed by the Foreign office that they wanted a more senior judge to preside, and requested a judge from the Court of Appeal be appointed.
Though Geoffrey Lawrence was ultimately appointed, Birkett was offered the position of alternate judge, which he accepted. In 1947, he was made a Privy Counsellor, which he considered poor reward for the
work he had done at Nuremberg, and in 1950 was offered appointment to the Court of Appeal, which he accepted. He served as Lord Justice of Appeal until 1956, when he was able to draw a pension. He accepted a peerage in the 1958 New Year Honours List and took his seat in the House of Lords.
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