Roger Robb
Encyclopedia
Roger Robb was a United States federal judge
and trial attorney, who prosecuted J. Robert Oppenheimer in a celebrated Atomic Energy Commission
hearing in 1954.
Robb was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont
. He received an A.B.
from Yale University
in 1928. He received an LL.B. from Yale Law School
in 1931. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia from 1931 to 1938. He was in private practice in Washington, DC from 1938 to 1969. Robb was the court-appointed attorney for Earl Browder
, a leader of the Communist Party, in a contempt of Congress case in 1950, earning praise from Browder despite his political differences.
Robb was probably best known as the prosecutor of the Atomic Energy Commission hearing
on the loyalty of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.
Over the course of four weeks the AEC panel, led by prosecutor Robb, interrogated Oppenheimer and other witnesses on his past affiliations with Communists. The board voted 2-1 to strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance.
In 1968, Robb represented Barry Goldwater
in his libel suit against Ralph Ginzburg
and Fact Magazine, which had claimed that Goldwater was mentally unstable. The jury awarded Goldwater $1 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in punitive damages, which was upheld on appeal.
A year later, Robb was appointed a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon on April 23, 1969, to a seat vacated by John A. Danaher
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 5, 1969, and received his commission on May 6, 1969. He assumed senior status
on May 31, 1982, and died on December 19, 1985. He was succeeded on the appellate court by Antonin Scalia
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
and trial attorney, who prosecuted J. Robert Oppenheimer in a celebrated Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
hearing in 1954.
Robb was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2000 census...
. 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 Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1928. He received an LL.B. from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1931. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia from 1931 to 1938. He was in private practice in Washington, DC from 1938 to 1969. Robb was the court-appointed attorney for Earl Browder
Earl Browder
Earl Russell Browder was an American communist and General Secretary of the Communist Party USA from 1934 to 1945. He was expelled from the party in 1946.- Early years :...
, a leader of the Communist Party, in a contempt of Congress case in 1950, earning praise from Browder despite his political differences.
Robb was probably best known as the prosecutor of the Atomic Energy Commission hearing
Oppenheimer security hearing
The Oppenheimer security hearing was a 1954 inquiry by the United States Atomic Energy Commission into the background, actions and associations of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American scientist who had headed the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb for the United States during World War...
on the loyalty of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.
Over the course of four weeks the AEC panel, led by prosecutor Robb, interrogated Oppenheimer and other witnesses on his past affiliations with Communists. The board voted 2-1 to strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance.
In 1968, Robb represented Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
in his libel suit against Ralph Ginzburg
Ralph Ginzburg
Ralph Ginzburg was an American author, editor, publisher and photo-journalist. He was best known for publishing books and magazines on erotica and art and for his conviction in 1963 for violating federal obscenity laws....
and Fact Magazine, which had claimed that Goldwater was mentally unstable. The jury awarded Goldwater $1 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in punitive damages, which was upheld on appeal.
A year later, Robb was appointed a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon on April 23, 1969, to a seat vacated by John A. Danaher
John A. Danaher
John Anthony Danaher was a United States Senator from Connecticut.Born in Meriden, Connecticut, he attended the local schools and during the First World War served in the Student's Army Training Corps at Yale University and in the Officers' Reserve Corps...
. 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 May 5, 1969, and received his commission on May 6, 1969. 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 31, 1982, and died on December 19, 1985. He was succeeded on the appellate court by Antonin Scalia
Antonin Scalia
Antonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
.