Robert E. Leach

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Robert E. Leach
Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office
August 21, 1978 – December 10, 1978
Appointed byJim Rhodes
Preceded byC. William O'Neill
Succeeded byFrank Celebrezze
Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office
September 25, 1970 – December 8, 1972
Appointed byJim Rhodes
Preceded byJohn M. Matthias
Succeeded byFrank Celebrezze
Personal details
Born(1911-12-18)December 18, 1911
Ohio State University College of Law

Robert E. Leach (December 18, 1911 – November 21, 1993) was a

Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
in 1978.

Biography

Robert E. Leach was born December 18, 1911, to Charles A. and Hazel K. Leach, and earned bachelors and law degrees from the

Law School. He was Delta Theta Phi, and was the first editor of the Ohio State Law Journal, 1934–1935.[1]

Leach entered into private practice of law in Columbus, until 1942, when he entered the U.S. Army, serving with the military police and in overseas service as special agent of the Counter Intelligence Corps, until 1946.[1]

After the war, Leach served as assistant city attorney. In 1951 he became chief counsel for Ohio Attorney General C. William O'Neill.[1]

In 1954, Leach won a two-year short term on the

Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes appointed him to the 10th District Court of Appeals.[1]

On September 25, 1970,

Ohio Supreme Court, and Governor Rhodes named Leach as his replacement. He had to run for election for the remainder of Matthias's term in November 1972, and lost to Democrat Frank Celebrezze. Celebrezze's election was certified and he took office December 8, 1972.[1]

Leach returned to private practice in 1973 in Columbus with

Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court C. William O'Neill died. Rhodes again appointed Leach, and he chose not to run for the remainder of the term in November of that year, believing he was not up to the rigors of a statewide campaign. Celebrezze won election, and was seated December 10, 1978, ending Leach's service.[1]

Leach married Marie E. Chumbley on November 29, 1940. They had no children. Leach died in Columbus, November 21, 1993, and is interred in Union Cemetery.

References