Robert Love Taylor (judge)

For his uncle, the politician, see Robert Love Taylor.

Robert Love Taylor (December 20, 1899 – July 11, 1987) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Robert Love Taylor
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
In office January 15, 1984 – July 11, 1987
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
In office 1961–1969
Preceded by	Leslie Rogers Darr
Succeeded by	Frank Wiley Wilson
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
In office November 2, 1949 – January 15, 1984
Appointed by	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	George Caldwell Taylor
Succeeded by	Robert Leon Jordan
Personal details
Born	Robert Love Taylor (1899-12-20)December 20, 1899 Embreeville, Tennessee
Died	July 11, 1987(1987-07-11) (aged 87)
Education	Milligan College (Ph.B.) Yale Law School (LL.B.) read law

Education and career

Born in Embreeville, Tennessee, Taylor was the son of longtime Tennessee politician Alfred A. Taylor, and was named for Alfred's brother, Robert Love Taylor, also very active in Tennessee politics.^[1] Taylor received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Milligan College in 1922 and read law to enter the bar in 1923, also receiving a Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School in 1924. He was a semi-professional baseball player in Summers, Tennessee from 1920 to 1922. He was in private practice in Johnson City, Tennessee from 1924 to 1949.^[2]

Federal judicial service

On November 2, 1949, Taylor received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee vacated by Judge George Caldwell Taylor. Formally nominated to the same seat by President Truman on January 5, 1950, Taylor was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 8, 1950, and received his commission on March 9, 1950. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1969. He was a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1972 to 1975. He assumed senior status on January 15, 1984, serving in that capacity until his death on July 11, 1987.^[2]

He ordered an injunction against officials at Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee after they refused to abide by the U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the exclusion of African Americans from public schools.^[3] The Clinton 12 faced threats and attacks as they attended the school and it was destroyed by dynamite.

See also

• List of United States federal judges by longevity of service

References

1. Clinton J. Holloway, A Place to call home: Remarks on the Williams-Taylor House, Milligan College, Tennessee on the occasion of the renovation and dedication as the Taylor-Phillips House Archived 2008-09-08 at the Wayback Machine, Milligan College (October 25, 2002).
2. Robert Love Taylor at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
3. Hearings. 1957.

Sources

• Robert Love Taylor at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

• Robert L. Taylor Papers, University of Tennessee Knoxville Libraries

Legal offices
Preceded by George Caldwell Taylor	Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee 1949–1984	Succeeded by Robert Leon Jordan
Preceded by Leslie Rogers Darr	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee 1961–1969	Succeeded by Frank Wiley Wilson