Charles Henry Robb Explained

Charles Henry Robb
Office:Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Term Start:November 15, 1937
Term End:June 10, 1939
Office1:Associate Justice of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Term Start1:October 5, 1906
Term End1:November 15, 1937
Appointer1:Theodore Roosevelt
Predecessor1:Charles Holland Duell
Successor1:Fred M. Vinson
Office3:State's Attorney of Windham County, Vermont
Term Start3:1896
Term End3:1899
Predecessor3:Clarke C. Fitts
Successor3:Herbert G. Barber
Birth Name:Charles Henry Robb
Birth Date:14 November 1867
Birth Place:Malone, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Party:Republican
Children:2, including Roger Robb
Occupation:Attorney

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'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. He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on December 3, 1906. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on November 15, 1937. His service terminated on June 10, 1939, due to his death in Washington, D.C.[16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

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).[21] In 1926, National University awarded Robb the honorary degree of LL.D.[22]

Family

In 1897, Robb married Nettie M. George, the daughter of Dr. Ozias M. George of Bellows Falls.[23] His son Roger Robb also served as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.[24] [25] [26] His daughter Priscilla (October 20, 1914 – November 20, 2011) was the wife of airline pilot Elliot A. Billings (November 22, 1912 – November 7, 2011).[27] Robb was a member of the Episcopal Church.[28]

Notes and References

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