Robert Van Pelt
Encyclopedia
Robert Van Pelt was a Nebraska attorney and served as U.S. District Judge
in the District of Nebraska from 1957 until his death at age 90.
Van Pelt was born in Gosper County, Nebraska
. He received an A.B.
from Doane College
in Crete, Nebraska
in 1920 and an LL.B. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law in 1922. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of District of Nebraska from 1930 to 1934, and an instructor at the Nebraska College of Law from 1946 to 1957. In 1923, Van Pelt's law firm was that of Stewart, Perry, Stewart, and Van Pelt. In 1930, Van Pelt left this firm and went into practice with Lloyd J. Marti, who eventually became mayor of Lincoln, NE from 1943-1947.
Van Pelt was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on May 22, 1957, to a seat on the district court vacated by John W. Delehant. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 11, 1957, and received his commission on June 13, 1957. He assumed senior status
on May 5, 1970.
While on the Federal bench, he served on the committee that drafted the Federal Rules of Evidence
and was named Special Master
by the Supreme Court
for four boundary disputes (Texas v. Louisiana, , California v. Nevada, , Ohio v. Kentucky, , and Kentucky v. Indiana).
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
in the District of Nebraska from 1957 until his death at age 90.
Van Pelt was born in Gosper County, Nebraska
Gosper County, Nebraska
-History:Gosper County was formed in 1873. It was named after John J. Gosper, a Secretary of State of Nebraska.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,143 people, 863 households, and 655 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were...
. He received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Doane College
Doane College
Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...
in Crete, Nebraska
Crete, Nebraska
Crete is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,960 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crete is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
in 1920 and an LL.B. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law in 1922. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of District of Nebraska from 1930 to 1934, and an instructor at the Nebraska College of Law from 1946 to 1957. In 1923, Van Pelt's law firm was that of Stewart, Perry, Stewart, and Van Pelt. In 1930, Van Pelt left this firm and went into practice with Lloyd J. Marti, who eventually became mayor of Lincoln, NE from 1943-1947.
Van Pelt was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on May 22, 1957, to a seat on the district court vacated by John W. Delehant. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 11, 1957, and received his commission on June 13, 1957. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on May 5, 1970.
While on the Federal bench, he served on the committee that drafted the Federal Rules of Evidence
Federal Rules of Evidence
The is a code of evidence law governing the admission of facts by which parties in the United States federal court system may prove their cases, both civil and criminal. The Rules were enacted in 1975, with subsequent amendments....
and was named Special Master
Special master
In law, a special master is an authority appointed by a judge to make sure that judicial orders are actually followed.In England, at common law, there were "Masters in Chancery," who acted in aid of the Equity Courts. There were also "Masters in Lunacy," who conducted inquiries of the same nature...
by the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
for four boundary disputes (Texas v. Louisiana, , California v. Nevada, , Ohio v. Kentucky, , and Kentucky v. Indiana).