Roy Laverne Stephenson

Roy Laverne Stephenson (March 14, 1917 – November 5, 1982) was a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and previously was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Roy Laverne Stephenson
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office
April 1, 1982  November 5, 1982
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
In office
June 22, 1971  April 1, 1982
Appointed byRichard Nixon
Preceded byMartin Donald Van Oosterhout
Succeeded byGeorge Gardner Fagg
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
In office
1961–1971
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byWilliam Cook Hanson
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
In office
May 31, 1960  July 6, 1971
Appointed byDwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded byEdwin Richley Hicklin
Succeeded byWilliam Corwin Stuart
Personal details
Born
Roy Laverne Stephenson

(1917-03-14)March 14, 1917
Spirit Lake, Iowa
DiedNovember 5, 1982(1982-11-05) (aged 65)
EducationUniversity of Iowa (BA)
University of Iowa College of Law (JD)

Education and career

Born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, Stephenson graduated from high school in nearby Spencer, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of Iowa (now University of Iowa) in 1938, followed by a Juris Doctor from the State University of Iowa College of Law in 1940. He was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve from 1938 to 1941, while serving in private practice in Mapleton, Iowa from 1940 to 1941. After the United States entered World War II, he served in North Africa and Italy with the 34th Infantry Division of the United States Army from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of Captain.[1] He was in private practice in Des Moines, Iowa from 1946 to 1953 until President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated him to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, a position he held from 1953 to 1960.[2] Before his appointment, while serving as chairman of the Polk County Republican Central Committee, Stephenson had been an early and active supporter of Eisenhower's candidacy.[3]

Federal judicial service

Stephenson was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on May 16, 1960, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa vacated by Judge Edwin Richley Hicklin. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 26, 1960, and received his commission on May 31, 1960. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1971. His service was terminated on July 6, 1971, due to his elevation to the Eighth Circuit.[2]

Stephenson was nominated by President Richard Nixon on June 1, 1971, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated by Judge Martin Donald Van Oosterhout. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 18, 1971, and received his commission on June 22, 1971. He assumed senior status on April 1, 1982. His service was terminated on November 5, 1982, due to his death.[2]

References

  1. "Roy Stephenson Gets Home from Italian Battle," The Milford Mail, 1944-06-15, p. 2
  2. Roy Laverne Stephenson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. "Judge is 'Man in a Hurry,'" Mason City Globe-Gazette, 1960-05-31 p. 1.

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
Edwin Richley Hicklin
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
1960–1971
Succeeded by
William Corwin Stuart
Preceded by
Office established
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
1961–1971
Succeeded by
William Cook Hanson
Preceded by
Martin Donald Van Oosterhout
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
1971–1982
Succeeded by
George Gardner Fagg
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