Robert Walker Kenny, a lawyer, was born in Los Angeles, California, August 21, 1901. He was educated at Harvard Military Academy, the University of Southern California Prep School, and at Stanford University where he received his A.B. in 1921. Prior to his being admitted to the California bar in 1926, he was a correspondent for the United Press Association in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London, England; he was also on the Paris staff of the Chicago Tribune and on the staff of the Los Angeles Evening Herald. In 1931 he was appointed to fill a vacant judgeship in Los Angeles. From 1932 to 1938 he was a Superior judge. The next three years he was a member of the California State Senate. He was Attorney General of California from 1943 to 1947, and president of the National Lawyers Guild from 1940 to 1948. He was also national co-chairman of the Progressive Citizens of America for a time.
A Democrat, in 1946 he was defeated for the California governorship by Republican Governor Earl Warren. It was also in 1946 that he observed the Nörnburg trials.
Kenny organized a Wallace-for-President movement in July 1947. However, he was opposed to the formation of a third party by Wallace.
Kenny was counsel for the nineteen Hollywood men who were called to tostify before the House Committee on un-American Activities in 1947. He continued as counsel for the “Hollywood Ten.”
In his book, Inside U.S.A., John Gunther says of Kenny: “... one of the most engaging men in America. His effervescent courage and liberalism are both incontestable.... one of the most unconventional men I ever met.... He is serious. But also he is an imp.... Kenny's humor, vivacity, sense of phrase, bright brains, and outrageousnesses are a joy.... he has always been on the side of the underpossessed.”
Robert S. Morris, an associate of Robert W. Kenny, was born in 1915 and admitted to the California bar in 1941. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law.
