Robert J. Kelleher

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Robert J. Kelleher
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office
March 5, 1983 – June 20, 2012
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
In office
December 21, 1970 – March 5, 1983
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded bySeat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded byAlicemarie Huber Stotler
Personal details
Born
Robert Joseph Kelleher

(1913-05-05)May 5, 1913
New York City, New York
DiedJune 20, 2012(2012-06-20) (aged 99)
Los Angeles, California
EducationWilliams College (AB)
Harvard University (JD)

Tennis career
Country (sports) United States
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF2000 (member page)
Singles
Grand Slam singles results
US Open2R (1934, 1935)

Robert Joseph Kelleher (March 5, 1913 – June 20, 2012) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and an American tennis player and official, inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.

Education and career

Born on May 5, 1913, in

United States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1945. He was in private practice in Santa Monica, California, from 1945 to 1948. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1948 to 1951. He was in private practice in Beverly Hills from 1951 to 1971.[1]

Federal judicial service

Kelleher was nominated by President Richard Nixon on December 15, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Central District of California, to a new seat authorized by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 17, 1970, and received his commission on December 21, 1970. He assumed senior status on March 5, 1983. Kelleher became the oldest serving federal judge in America in 2012 after Wesley E. Brown died at the age of 104.[2] He died on June 20, 2012 at the age of 99 in Los Angeles.[1][3]

Notable cases

In 1977, Kelleher served as the judge in the separate trials

Christopher Boyce and Andrew Daulton Lee, the subjects of the 1985 movie The Falcon and the Snowman and the book of the same name.[3]

Tennis career

Kelleher was the New England Intercollegiate Doubles Champion in 1933 and won the Eastern Collegiate Doubles the same year.[citation needed] He won the Canadian mixed doubles championship in 1947 with his wife Gracyn Wheeler Kelleher.[citation needed] Kelleher was the U.S. Davis Cup Captain in 1962–63 (winning in 1963) and was a three-time U.S. Hard Court 45s doubles champion.[citation needed]

As president of the

open tennis a reality in 1968. Prior to his presidency, major tennis tournaments were closed to professional players and prize money was not offered. Kelleher was instrumental in changing this system, thus allowing anyone to play and instituting legitimate prize money in tournaments.[6] He also participated extensively in the activities of the Southern California Tennis Association.[citation needed
]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Robert Joseph Kelleher at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ "Robert J. Kelleher, 99; oldest serving federal judge - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  3. ^ a b Noland, Claire (June 20, 2012). "Robert J. Kelleher dies at 99; pivotal tennis official became federal judge". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  4. Toledo Blade
    . September 12, 1977. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Noe, Denise. "Christopher Boyce & Andrew Daulton Lee". Crime Library. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  6. ^ Finn, Robin (June 22, 2012). "Robert J. Kelleher, Judge and Tennis Official, Dies at 99". The New York Times.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
1970–1983
Succeeded by