Robert P. Patterson Jr.

Robert Porter Patterson Jr. (July 11, 1923 – April 21, 2015) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Robert Porter Patterson Jr.
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
In office December 31, 1998 – April 21, 2015
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
In office October 6, 1988 – December 31, 1998
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Whitman Knapp
Succeeded by	George B. Daniels
Personal details
Born	Robert Porter Patterson Jr. July 11, 1923 New York City, New York
Died	April 21, 2015 (aged 91) New York City, New York
Father	Robert P. Patterson
Education	Harvard College (B.A.) Columbia Law School (LL.B.)

Early life and career

Born in New York City, New York on July 11, 1923,[1] the son of United States Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, Patterson Jr. was in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1956, during which time he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1947 and a Bachelor of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1950. He was in private practice in New York City from 1950 to 1952, then served as assistant counsel to the New York State Crime Commission from 1952 to 1953, and as an Assistant United States Attorney for Southern District of New York from 1953 to 1956. He was also an assistant counsel to the United States Senate Banking and Currency Committee in 1954. He was in private practice in New York City again from 1956 (joining the firm founded by his father, Patterson, Belknap & Webb - later Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler)[2] to 1988, working as a special hearing officer for conscientious objectors in the United States Department of Justice from 1961 to 1968, and as minority counsel to a Select Committee Pursuant to United States House of Representatives Resolution Number 1 in 1967.[3]

Federal judicial service

In March 1988, New York Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan recommended Patterson, a Republican, for a seat on the United States District Court as part of a bipartisan deal between him and New York's other senator, Republican Alfonse D'Amato, that permitted New York's senator from the party that was not in the White House to select a small number of federal judges from New York.[4] Similar deals have been worked out over the years between New York's senators to pave the way for nominations of Sonia Sotomayor and John E. Sprizzo, both of whom also were recommended by minority-party senators from New York and ultimately were nominated by the president and confirmed to the federal bench.

On June 14, 1988, President Ronald Reagan nominated Patterson to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge Whitman Knapp. On August 10, 1988 the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary reported on Patterson's nomination on a voice vote without dissent.[4] The next day, however, Republican Senator Gordon Humphrey placed a hold on Patterson's nomination and subsequently queried the nominee about his positions on abortion.[4] Ultimately, Patterson was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 5, 1988, and received his commission the following day.[3] He assumed senior status on December 31, 1998 and died on April 21, 2015 at the age of 91.[5]

References

1. The New York Times Biographical Service. 6. New York City: The New York Times Company. 1975. p. 491.
2. Roberts, Sam (April 24, 2016). "Robert Patterson Jr., Lawyer and Judge Who Fought for the Accused, Dies at 91". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
3. "Patterson, Robert Porter, Jr. - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
4. Zander, Dick (August 29, 1988). "The Pledge of (Party) Allegiance". Newsday. p. 23.
5. Mark Hamblett. "Southern District Judge Robert Patterson Dies at Age 91". New York Law Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

Sources

• Robert Porter Patterson Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.