Robert Morton Duncan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Morton Duncan
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio | |
| In office June 20, 1974 – April 15, 1985 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Carl Andrew Weinman |
| Succeeded by | James L. Graham |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces | |
| In office 1971–1974 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Homer S. Ferguson |
| Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court | |
| In office January 2, 1969 – November 26, 1971 |
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| Appointed by | Jim Rhodes |
| Preceded by | Paul W. Brown |
| Succeeded by | Lloyd O. Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Morton Duncan
August 24, 1927 Urbana, Ohio |
| Died | November 2, 2012 (aged 85) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Ohio State University (BS) Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (JD) |
Robert Morton Duncan (born August 24, 1927 – died November 2, 2012) was an important American judge. He served as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He was known for being the first African-American to hold several important judicial positions in Ohio and at the national level.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Morton Duncan was born on August 24, 1927, in Urbana, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948. Later, he studied law at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, getting his law degree in 1952.
Military Service and Early Career
After finishing law school, Duncan served in the United States Army in Korea from 1952 to 1956. When he returned, he began his legal career in Ohio.
- From 1959 to 1960, he worked as an attorney examiner for the Ohio Bureau of Workmen's Compensation.
- He then served as the city prosecutor for Columbus, Ohio from 1960 to 1963.
- From 1963 to 1966, he was the chief counsel for the state attorney general of Ohio.
Judicial Career in Ohio
Robert Duncan began his career as a judge in Ohio.
- From 1966 to 1968, he was a judge for the Franklin County Municipal Court.
- He then became a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court, serving from 1968 to 1971. This was a very important step in his career.
Serving as a Federal Judge
Duncan moved on to serve as a judge in the federal court system.
United States Court of Military Appeals
From 1971 to 1974, he was a judge on the United States Court of Military Appeals. This court handles cases involving military law. Today, it is known as the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
United States District Court Judge
President Richard Nixon chose Robert Duncan to be a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He was officially approved by the United States Senate on June 13, 1974. He started his work as a federal judge on June 20, 1974. He served in this role until April 15, 1985, when he decided to resign.
Life After Being a Judge
After leaving his federal judge position, Robert Duncan returned to working as a lawyer in a private law firm.
Breaking Barriers: His "Firsts"
Robert Morton Duncan is remembered for being the first African-American to achieve several important milestones in the legal field:
- He was the first African-American to be elected as a judge in Franklin County, Ohio.
- He was the first African-American to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court.
- He was the first African-American to serve on the United States Court of Military Appeals.
- He was also the first African-American to be appointed as a federal judge in Ohio.
Personal Life
Robert Duncan married his wife, Shirley, in 1955. They had three children together. Robert Morton Duncan passed away on November 2, 2012.
See also
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Ohio
