WASHINGTON - The Honorable John P. ("Sean") Coffey, General Counsel of the Navy, received the "Port Chicago Exoneration Champion Award" on October 24 in recognition of his pivotal role in the full exoneration of the remaining 256 defendants from the 1944 Port Chicago general and summary courts-martial.
In the aftermath of the 1944 explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, white officers were granted leave while African-American Sailors were compelled to return to work. When 258 Sailors refused to handle ammunition, they were subsequently convicted in a summary and general courts-martial.
A comprehensive examination of both trials revealed significant legal errors in the proceedings that compromised the fairness of the trials, which include the defendants being improperly tried together despite conflicting interests and being denied a meaningful right to counsel. Additionally, the courts-martial took place before the Navy's Court of Inquiry finalized its report on the explosion.
Following the Navy's review, Secretary Del Toro officially exonerated the remaining 256 defendants from the 1944 courts-martial. General Counsel Coffey led the legal review efforts and was honored with the "Port Chicago Exoneration Champion Award" from Contra Costa Justice for All for his instrumental contribution to the Sailors' exoneration.
General Counsel Coffey's dedication and expertise were crucial in uncovering that the conduct of the Port Chicago courts-martial were fundamentally unfair and did not result in just outcomes for the defendants or the Navy. This decision demonstrates the Department of the Navy's commitment to correcting historical injustices and ensuring all service members are treated fairly and equitably.
