After graduating from law school, Rigney was assistant U.S. Attorney for the Criminal Division in the Southern District of New York. From 1942-1946, during World War II, he was a Captain in the U.S. Army. After the war, he returned to New York and in 1950 was appointed Deputy Police Commissioner. From 1946-1947, he served as assistant U.S. Counsel for War Crimes in Nuremberg, Germany. The Nuremberg Trials prosecuted 23 German physicians and administrators for their willing participation in war crimes and crimes against humanity. There were 40 days of proceedings, including the testimony of 85 witnesses and the submission of almost 1,500 documents. Sixteen of the Nazi doctors were found guilty. Seven were sentenced to death.
In 1952, Rigney became an associate at the Alexander & Green law firm and, in 1957, was the assistant N.Y.S. Attorney General and Special Prosecutor in Suffolk County, investigating political corruption. He eventually made partner with Alexander & Green in 1959, and later Counsel in 1983. He passed away in 1994.
Contribution: Member of U.S. Counsel for War Crimes in Nuremberg, Germany
Hometown: East Bloomfield, N.Y.
College Activities: Debate Team, Phi Delta Sigma, Delegate to the League of Nations Assembly
Major: History and Economics
Other Education: Fordham University, New York, N.Y. (LL.D., 1936)