Charles Henry Robb
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
In office
November 15, 1937 – June 10, 1939
Associate Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
In office
October 5, 1906 – November 15, 1937
Appointed byTheodore Roosevelt
Preceded byCharles Holland Duell
Succeeded byFred M. Vinson
State's Attorney of Windham County, Vermont
In office
1896–1899
Preceded byClarke C. Fitts
Succeeded byHerbert G. Barber
Personal details
Born
Charles Henry Robb

(1867-11-14)November 14, 1867
Malone, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1939(1939-06-10) (aged 71)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Nettie M. George
​
(m. 1897)​
Children2, including Roger Robb
OccupationAttorney

Charles Henry Robb (November 14, 1867 – June 10, 1939) was an American lawyer from Vermont and Washington, DC. He was most notable for his service as an Associate Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

A native of Malone, New York. Robb grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island, Troy, New York, New York and Guilford, Vermont, and graduated from West Brattleboro, Vermont's Glenwood Seminary in 1886. He studied law, attained admission to the bar, and began to practice in Bellows Falls, Vermont, in 1892. A Republican, he served as Windham County, Vermont State's Attorney for three years (1896-1899). Robb was a United States Assistant Attorney General in the United States Post Office Department from 1903 to 1904.

In 1906, Robb was appointed an associate justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia (now the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit). He served until assuming senior status in 1937. Robb died in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 1939.

Education and career

Robb as Assistant Attorney General in 1905.

Robb's original family name was spelled "Robideau", "Robadeau" and "Rubadeau".[1] He was born in Malone, New York, the son of Isaac M. Robb and Clara Slater Matthews.[2] He was raised in Lincoln, Rhode Island, Troy, New York, New York and Guilford, Vermont.[1][3] Robb attended Brattleboro, Vermont's Brattleboro High School and graduated from West Brattleboro's Glenwood Seminary in 1886.[4] He began studies for the entrance examination to attend the United States Military Academy, but decided to study law instead.[4] He studied with the firm of Kittredge Haskins and Edgar W. Stoddard,[5] was admitted to the bar in 1892, and practiced in Bellows Falls from 1894 to 1902.[6] A Republican, from 1896 to 1899 he served as State's Attorney of Windham County.[7][8][9] He then served as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service.[10] While practicing law in Vermont, Robb was also involved in business and banking, and was an incorporator and officer of the Bellows Falls Trust Company.[11] He was also active in both the Vermont and American Bar Associations.[12] From 1903 to 1904, Robb was a United States Assistant Attorney General in the United States Post Office Department, where he investigated wrongdoing and prosecuted corrupt officials.[13][14] Robb served as an assistant to the United States Attorney General from 1904 to 1906.[15]

Federal judicial service

Robb received a recess appointment from President Theodore Roosevelt on October 5, 1906, to an Associate Justice seat on the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia (now the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit) which had been vacated by Charles Holland Duell.[16] He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on December 3, 1906.[16] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received his commission the same day.[16] He assumed senior status on November 15, 1937.[16] His service terminated on June 10, 1939, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[17][18][19][20][21]

Other service

While serving on the bench Robb was also a member of the faculty at the National University Law School (now George Washington University Law School).[22] In 1926, National University awarded Robb the honorary degree of LL.D.[23]

Family

In 1897, Robb married Nettie M. George, the daughter of Dr. Ozias M. George of Bellows Falls.[24] His son Roger Robb also served as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.[25][26][27] His daughter Priscilla (October 20, 1914 – November 20, 2011) was the wife of airline pilot Elliot A. Billings (November 22, 1912 – November 7, 2011).[28] Robb was a member of the Episcopal Church.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b "1880 United States Federal Census, Guilford, Vermont, Entry for Isaac Robadeau Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. June 2, 1880. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Record for Charles H, Robb and Nettie M. George, retrieved July 5, 2014
  3. ^ "Rhode Island State Census, 1875, Entry for Isaac M. Robb Family". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. June 1, 1875. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Some of the Candidates: Charles H. Robb". Bellows Falls Times. Bellows Falls, VT. June 27, 1896. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Biography: Charles H. Robb". The Vermonter. St. Albans, Vermont: Charles S. Forbes: 214. February 1, 1905.
  6. ^ Leonard, John William; Marquis, Albert Nelson (30 March 2019). "Who's who in America". Marquis Who's Who. p. 1593 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Accounts, Vermont Auditor of (30 March 1898). "Report of the Auditor of Accounts". The Auditor. p. 37 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Vermont (30 March 2019). "State Officers' Reports for ..." The State. p. 19 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "The Washington Law Reporter". Powell & Ginck. 30 March 2019. p. 619 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Boston Globe, Charles H. Robb Appointed, April 12, 1901, via Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Hayes, Lyman Simpson (1907). History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. The Town. p. 446 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ Association, American Bar (30 March 2019). "Annual Report of the American Bar Association: Including Proceedings of the ... Annual Meeting". Headquarters Office. p. 186 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Sprague, William Cyrus; Ellis, Griffith Ogden; Kelland, Clarence B.; Towers, Walter K.; Austin, Frederick R. (30 March 2019). "The Law Student's Helper: A Monthly Magazine for the Student in and Out of Law School". Collector Publishing Company. p. 20 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Boston Globe, What is Wrong: Report on New York Post Office; Irregularities in Conduct to be Corrected, May 13, 1904, via Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Charles H. Robb Succeeds Hoyt" (PDF). The New York Times. March 13, 1904.
  16. ^ a b c d Charles Henry Robb at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  17. ^ Baltimore Sun, C. H. Robb Made Justice, October 6, 1906, via Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Boston Globe, He is A Vermonter: C. H. Robb is Promoted by the President; Appointed Justice of District of Columbia Appeals Court, October 6, 1906, via Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Robb Will Retire from Bench at 70; District of Columbia Appeals Justice to Avail Himself of Full Pay Provision". The New York Times. 6 November 1937.
  20. ^ "Federal Judge Robb will Retire November 15". news.google.com. Associated Press, The Bend (Oregon) Bulletin. November 5, 1937 – via Google News Archive Search.
  21. ^ "Justice C. H. Robb Dies in Washington; Spent 31 Years on U.S. Appeals Bench in District of Columbia". The New York Times. 11 June 1939.
  22. ^ American Law School Review. West Publishing Company. 1922. p. 51 – via Internet Archive.
  23. ^ "National to Give Three LL.D. Degrees". The Sunday Star. Washington, DC. June 6, 1926. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Hayes, Lyman Simpson (1907). History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. Lynn, MA: Frank S. Whitten. p. 662.
  25. ^ "Washington residents Took Bets on Pearson-Howser Libel Case". news.google.com. St. Petersburg Times. January 27, 1951 – via Google News Archive Search.
  26. ^ "Atty. Roger Robb -- Bails Out Republicans in Trouble". news.google.com. The Milwaukee Sentinel. June 18, 1958 – via Google News Archive Search.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "Sketches of the Nine Judges Who Are Hearing Appeals on the Watergate Tapes". The New York Times. 11 September 1973.
  28. ^ "Obituary: Priscilla Robb Billings". Cape Cod Times. Hyannis, MA. November 25, 2011.
  29. ^ "Robb-George: A Beautiful Rose Wedding Wednesday Evening; Brilliant Reception". Vermont Phoenix. Brattleboro, VT. June 25, 1897. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

Legal offices Preceded byCharles Holland Duell Associate Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 1906–1937 Succeeded byFred M. Vinson
Categories