My name is John Paul Hennessy, William (Bill) Joseph Hennessy Jr.’s son. I’m reaching out with the sad news that my father passed away early Monday morning. As the creative man he was, he left poetically on his 67th birthday.
William J. Hennessy Jr., renowned courtroom artist, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024. Over his distinguished 40+ years career, Hennessy captured pivotal moments in American legal history including the White House CIA leak, Iran Contra, Clinton impeachment, Guantanamo Bay, Microsoft anti-trust, and countless other high-profile cases. His evocative sketches provided the public with a unique window into courtroom dynamics, especially in cases where cameras were prohibited. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the intersection of art and reportage.
While widely celebrated for his courtroom artistry, Hennessy was also a true Renaissance man. He was an extraordinary painter, sculptor, photographer, videographer, writer, thinker, and adventurer. He worked the land, rode motorcycles, was mechanically inclined, and could fix anything. He loved hiking, exploring nature, fishing, and traveling. His creative spirit and inquisitive mind transcended any single discipline, and above all, he deeply loved his family.
Hennessy is survived by his amazing wife, Arezou, and their seven wonderful children and thirteen grandchildren who continue to reflect his brilliance and boundless love. His legacy of artistry, innovation, and humanity will forever inspire those who knew him and countless others who admired his work.
Over decades spent as a sketch artist, Hennessy captured historic moments and landmark cases at the Supreme Court, where photography and video cameras are not allowed. A compilation of his sketches on his website includes close-ups of Chief Justice Warren Burger, who served from 1969 until 1986, the Dec. 2000 argument in Bush v. Gore, and the 2005 investiture of the current chief justice, John Roberts.
In a sketch depicting last week’s oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti, the challenge to Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, Hennessy caught the energy in the room: the justices gesticulating as Chase Strangio, the first openly transgender person to argue before the court, speaks at the lectern.
“It’s a different way of recording something,” Hennessy, who worked independently and often sold his sketches to CNN, NBC, Fox and other major news organizations, told CNN in April. “It brings a uniqueness to it, that as much as I think many people would prefer to have a video or camera on it, what I do is actually as the questioning is taking place, I go from each justice, as each justice asks the next question, I go and sketch that exchange.”
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