Robert Morris (judge) explained

Robert Morris
Office:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
Term Start:June 1, 1802
Term End:June 2, 1815
Appointer:operation of law
Predecessor:Seat established by 2 Stat. 132
Successor:William Sanford Pennington
Term Start1:August 28, 1790
Term End1:February 13, 1801
Appointer1:George Washington
Predecessor1:David Brearley
Successor1:Seat abolished
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Jersey
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of New Jersey
Term Start2:February 13, 1801
Term End2:June 1, 1802
Appointer2:operation of law
Predecessor2:Seat established by 2 Stat. 89
Successor2:Seat abolished
Office3:Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
Term Start3:February 5, 1777
Term End3:May 25, 1779
Governor3:William Livingston
Successor3:David Brearley
Birth Place:New Brunswick,
Province of New Jersey,
British America
Death Place:New Brunswick, New Jersey
Father:Robert Hunter Morris
Relatives:Lewis Morris
Education:read law

Robert Morris (1745 – June 2, 1815) was chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Western District of New Jersey.

Education and career

Born in 1745, in New Brunswick, Province of New Jersey, British America, Morris read law in 1770. He entered private practice in New Brunswick from 1770 to 1776. On September 6, 1776, by Joint Meeting of the New Jersey Legislature, Morris was appointed Clerk of Bergen County.[1] On February 5, 1777, the Legislature named him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the office once held by his father.[2] On November 6, 1778 Morris resigned as Bergen County Clerk.[3] He continued to serve as Chief Justice until his resignation from that office on May 25, 1779.[4] He resumed private practice in New Brunswick from 1779 to 1790.

Federal judicial service

Morris received a recess appointment from President George Washington on August 28, 1790, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by Judge David Brearley. He was nominated to the same position by President Washington on December 17, 1790. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 20, 1790, and received his commission the same day. Morris was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Western District of New Jersey on February 13, 1801, to a new joint seat authorized by . Morris was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on July 1, 1802, to a new seat authorized by . His service terminated on June 2, 1815, due to his death in New Brunswick.

Family

Morris was the son of New Jersey Chief Justice Robert Hunter Morris and grandson of former Governor Lewis Morris.

Notes and References

  1. Minutes and Proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in Joint-Meeting from August 30, 1776 to May 1780; Isaac Collins, Printer to the State; Trenton, 1780; p 6.
  2. Minutes and Proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in Joint-Meeting from August 30, 1776 to May 1780; Isaac Collins, Printer to the State; Trenton, 1780; p 13.
  3. Minutes and Proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in Joint-Meeting from August 30, 1776 to May 1780; Isaac Collins, Printer to the State; Trenton, 1780; p 29.
  4. Minutes and Proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey in Joint-Meeting from August 30, 1776 to May 1780; Isaac Collins, Printer to the State; Trenton, 1780; p 30.