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Spottswood Robinson

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Spottswood Robinson

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Nonpartisan

Prior offices
United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Education

Law

Howard University, 1939

Personal
Birthplace
Richmond, Va.


Spottswood William Robinson III (1916-1998) was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He was the first black judge to serve on either of these courts.[1]

DC Circuit

Robinson was nominated to the DC Circuit by President Lyndon Johnson on October 6, 1966, to a seat vacated by George Thomas Washington; he was confirmed by the Senate on October 20, 1966, and received commission on November 3. He served as chief judge from 1981-1986. He assumed senior status on September 1, 1989, and served in that capacity until his death on October 11, 1998.[2]

DC District

Robinson received a recess appointment to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia from President Lyndon Johnson on January 6, 1964, to a seat vacated by James W. Morris; he was nominated on February 3, 1964, confirmed by the Senate on July 1, 1964, and received commission the next day. He served he was elevated to the DC Circuit on November 8, 1966.[2]

Education

  • Howard University, LL.B., 1939[2]

Professional career

  • Faculty, Howard University School of Law, 1939-1948
  • Private practice, Richmond, Virginia, 1943-1960
  • Counsel / representative, Virginia NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 1948-1950
  • Southeast regional counsel, NAACP, 1951-1960
  • Professor / dean, Howard University School of Law, 1960-1963
  • U.S. Commission of Civil Rights, 1961-1963[2]

Footnotes