Thomas H. Roberts

Thomas Roberts
36th Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
In office
1966–1976
Preceded byFrancis Condon
Succeeded byJoseph A. Bevilacqua
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
In office
1950–1952
Appointed byHarry S. Truman
Preceded byDavid Chávez
Succeeded byClemente Ruiz Nazario
Personal details
Born
Thomas Hagen Roberts

(1902-01-04)January 4, 1902
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedJanuary 7, 1976(1976-01-07) (aged 74)
RelationsDennis J. Roberts (brother)
ChildrenDennis J. Roberts II
Alma materFordham University (BA)
Boston University (JD)

Thomas Hagan Roberts (January 4, 1902 – January 7, 1976) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Roberts received his bachelor's degree from Fordham University and his J.D. degree from Boston University School of Law. During World War II, he served as director of Rhode Island Civil Defense and chairman of the Rhode Island Bureau of Police and Fire.

Career

[edit]

From 1949 to 1950, Roberts served as chief counsel of the United Nations War Crimes Commission. Roberts was appointed to the judgeship for the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, by President Harry S. Truman, and served from 1950 to 1952. Roberts served on the Rhode Island Superior Court in 1951 and was appointed to succeed Justice Jeremiah E. O'Connell on the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1956,[1] serving until 1976, and as chief justice from 1966 to 1976.[2] He was the brother of Rhode Island Governor Dennis J. Roberts.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Andrews, Roberts, Paolino Named To Three Vacancies On State Supreme Court", Newport Daily News (January 18, 1956), p. 1.
  2. ^ United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico-Thomas Hagen Roberts (1950-1951)
  • Guillermo A. Baralt, History of the Federal Court in Puerto Rico: 1899-1999 (2004) (also published in Spanish as Historia del Tribunal Federal de Puerto Rico)
Preceded by Judge, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
1950–1952
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Francis B. Condon
Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
1966-1976
Succeeded by