Roy Laverne Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Roy Laverne Stephenson was a United States Attorney
, and United States federal judge
at the district court and appellate court levels.
Born in Spirit Lake, Iowa
, Stephenson graduated from high school in nearby Spencer, Iowa
. He received a B.A.
from State University of Iowa in 1938, followed by a J.D.
from the same University in 1940. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
Reserve from 1938 to 1941, while serving in private practice in Mapleton, Iowa
from 1940 to 1941. After the United States entered World War II
, he served in North Africa and Italy with the 34th Infantry Division of the United States Army
from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain. He was in private practice in Des Moines, Iowa
from 1946 to 1953 until President Dwight D. Eisenhower
nominated him to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa
, a position he held from 1953 to 1960. Before his appointment, while serving as chairman of the Polk County
Republican Central Committee, Stephenson had been an early and active supporter of Eisenhower's candidacy.
Stephenson was nominated by President Eisenhower on May 16, 1960, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
vacated when Edwin R. Hicklin assumed senior status
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 26, 1960, and received his commission on May 31, 1960. He served as chief judge
from 1961 to 1971.
On July 6, 1971, he was elevated to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
. Stephenson had been nominated to the Eighth Circuit by President Richard M. Nixon on June 1, 1971, to fill a vacancy that arose when another Iowan, Martin Donald Van Oosterhout
, assumed senior status. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 18, 1971, and received his commission on June 22, 1971.
Stephenson assumed senior status
on April 1, 1982, soon after his 65th birthday. He died unexpectedly later that year, on November 5, 1982.
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
, and United States federal judge
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....
at the district court and appellate court levels.
Born in Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....
, Stephenson graduated from high school in nearby Spencer, Iowa
Spencer, Iowa
Spencer is a city in the state of Iowa , and the county seat of Clay County . It is located at the confluence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers. The population was 11,233 in the 2010 census, a decline from 11,317 in the 2000 census. Spencer is famous as the home of the Clay County Fair,...
. He received a B.A.
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 State University of Iowa in 1938, followed by a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the same University in 1940. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Reserve from 1938 to 1941, while serving in private practice in Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton, Iowa
Mapleton is a city in Monona County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mapleton is located at...
from 1940 to 1941. After the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in North Africa and Italy with the 34th Infantry Division of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain. He was in private practice in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
from 1946 to 1953 until 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...
nominated him to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
, a position he held from 1953 to 1960. Before his appointment, while serving as chairman of the Polk County
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
Republican Central Committee, Stephenson had been an early and active supporter of Eisenhower's candidacy.
Stephenson was nominated by President Eisenhower on May 16, 1960, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
vacated when Edwin R. Hicklin 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...
. 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 26, 1960, and received his commission on May 31, 1960. He served as chief judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 1961 to 1971.
On July 6, 1971, he was elevated to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
. Stephenson had been nominated to the Eighth Circuit by President Richard M. Nixon on June 1, 1971, to fill a vacancy that arose when another Iowan, Martin Donald Van Oosterhout
Martin Donald Van Oosterhout
Martin Donald Van Oosterhout was a legislator and state court judge in northwestern Iowa, and a United States federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit....
, assumed senior status. 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 18, 1971, and received his commission on June 22, 1971.
Stephenson 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 April 1, 1982, soon after his 65th birthday. He died unexpectedly later that year, on November 5, 1982.