Charles Henry Robb

Charles Henry Robb
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
In office October 5, 1906 – November 15, 1937
Appointed by	Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded by	Charles H. Duell
Succeeded by	Fred M. Vinson
Personal details
Born	November 14, 1867 Malone, New York
Died	June 10, 1939 (aged 71) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Nettie M. George (m. 1897)
Children	2 (including Roger Robb)
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Episcopal[1]

Charles Henry Robb (November 14, 1867 – June 10, 1939) was a United States federal judge.

Early life career

Charles H. Robb was born in Malone, New York, the son of Isaac W. Robb and Clara Slater Matthews.^[2] He was raised in Lincoln, Rhode Island, Troy, New York and Guilford, Vermont. He read law with the firm of Kittredge Haskins and Edgar W. Stoddard,^[3] attained admission to the bar in 1892, and practiced in Bellows Falls, Vermont from 1894 to 1902.^[4]

Start of career

A Republican, from 1897 to 1901 he served as Windham County State's Attorney.^[5][6][7] He then served as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service.^[8]

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.^[9] He was also active in both the Vermont and American Bar Associations.^[10]

Robb as Assistant Attorney General in 1905.

From 1903 to 1904 Robb was an Assistant Attorney General in the Post Office Department, where he investigated wrongdoing and prosecuted corrupt officials.^[11][12]

Robb served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney General from 1904 to 1906.^[13]

Federal judge

On October 5, 1906, Robb received a recess appointment from President Theodore Roosevelt to the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which was vacated when Charles H. Duell resigned. Formally nominated on December 3, 1906, Robb was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 11, 1906, and received his commission the same day. He served on the bench until he assumed senior status on November 15, 1937, and maintained his senior status until his death.^{[14][15][16][17]}

While serving on the bench Judge Robb was also a member of the faculty at the National University Law School (now George Washington University Law School).^[18]

Judge Robb died in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 1939.^[19]

Family

In 1897 Robb married Nettie M. George, the daughter of Dr. Ozias M. George of Bellows Falls.^[20]

His son Roger Robb also served as a Judge for the D.C. Court of Appeals.^[21][22][23]

His daughter Priscilla (October 20, 1914 – November 20, 2011) was the wife of airline pilot Elliot A. Billings (November 22, 1912 - November 7, 2011).^[24]

References

1. "Robb-George: A Beautiful Rose Wedding Wednesday Evening; Brilliant Reception". Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro, VT). June 25, 1897. p. 8. (subscription required (help)).
2. Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Record for Charles H, Robb and Nettie M. George, retrieved July 5, 2014
3. "Biography: Charles H. Robb". The Vermonter (St. Albans, Vermont: Charles S. Forbes): 214. February 1, 1905.
4. John William Leonard, Albert Nelson Marquis, Who's Who in America, Volume 5, 1908, page 1593
5. Vermont Auditor of Accounts, Annual Report, 1898, page 37
6. State of Vermont, State Officers' Reports, 1900, page 19
7. Washington Law Reporter, Mr. Justice Charles H. Robb, October 12, 1906, page 619
8. Boston Globe, Charles H. Robb Appointed, April 12, 1901
9. Lyman Simpson Hayes, History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont, 1907, page 446
10. American Bar Association, Annual Report, Volume 31, 1895, page 186
11. The Law Student's Helper magazine, Judge Charles H. Robb, January, 1907, page 20
12. Boston Globe, What is Wrong: Report on New York Post Office; Irregularities in Conduct to be Corrected, May 13, 1904
13. New York Times, Charles H. Robb Succeeds Hoyt, March 13, 1904
14. Baltimore Sun, C. H. Robb Made Justice, October 6, 1906
15. 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
16. New York Times, Robb Will retire From Bench at 70, November 6, 1937
17. Associated Press, The Bend (Oregon) Bulletin, Federal Judge Robb Will Retire Nov. 15, November 5, 1937
18. Alfred Findlay Mason, Samuel Epes Turner, American Law School Review, Volume 5, 1922, page 51
19. New York Times, Justice C.H. Robb Dies in Washington: Spent 31 Years on U.S. Appeals Bench in District of Columbia, June 11, 1939
20. Hayes, Lyman Simpson (1907). History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. Lynn, MA: Frank S. Whitten. p. 662.
21. Drew Pearson, Washington Merry Go Round, Washington residents Took Bets on Pearson-Howser Libel Case, St. Petersburg Times, January 27, 1951
22. Ed Edstrom, Atty. Roger Robb -- Bails Out Republicans in Trouble, June 18, 1958
23. New York Times, Sketches of the Nine Judges Who Are Hearing Appeals on the Watergate Tapes, September 11, 1973
24. "Obituary: Priscilla Robb Billings". Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, MA). November 25, 2011.

Additional sources

• Charles Henry Robb at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.