Robert Alexander Inch | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office January 6, 1958 – January 12, 1961 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office 1948–1958 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Mortimer W. Byers |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | |
| In office April 28, 1923 – January 6, 1958 | |
| Appointed by | Warren G. Harding (recess) Calvin Coolidge (commission) |
| Preceded by | Thomas Chatfield |
| Succeeded by | John R. Bartels |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Alexander Inch (1873-04-03)April 3, 1873 |
| Died | January 12, 1961(1961-01-12) (aged 87) |
| Education | Princeton University (A.B.) New York Law School (LL.B.) |
Robert Alexander Inch (April 3, 1873 – January 12, 1961) was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York inBrooklyn,New York from 1923 to 1961 and its Chief Judge from 1948 to 1958.
Born inProvidence,Rhode Island, Inch obtained anArtium Baccalaureus degree fromPrinceton University in 1895 and then graduated fromNew York Law School in 1897.[1] After graduation, Inch spent the next 27 years as alawyer in private practice inNew York City,New York.[2][3][4]
Inch received arecess appointment from PresidentWarren G. Harding on April 28, 1923, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York vacated by JudgeThomas Chatfield. He was nominated to the same position by PresidentCalvin Coolidge on December 15, 1923. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on January 8, 1924, and received his commission the same day. He served as Chief Judge from 1948 to 1958. He assumedsenior status on January 6, 1958.[4] His service terminated on January 12, 1961, due to his death inQueens, New York.[2][3][5]
As a federal district judge, Inch presided over a full array of civil and criminal matters, ranging from prosecutions under theVolstead Act during theProhibition era toreceivership cases during theGreat Depression and conspiracy charges against allegedorganized crime leaders during the 1950s. From 1948 to 1951, Inch presided over the government's case againstMartin James Monti for assistingGermany duringWorld War II, denying Monti's plea to withdraw his guilty plea to charges oftreason that initially resulted in a 25-year prison sentence.[6]
Although Inch was reportedly a dedicated and hardworking judge, his decisions were not universally respected. In particular, JudgeLearned Hand of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which reviewed Inch's rulings when they were appealed, was consistently critical, frequently referring to Inch in internal court memoranda by derisive names such as "the Inchworm" or "Judge Millimeter."[7]
Off the bench, Inch was known as a lover ofgolf, a sport he played avidly for more than 50 years.[2][3][8]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 1923–1958 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Office established | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York 1948–1958 | Succeeded by |