Robert J. Kelleher | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| In office March 5, 1983 – June 20, 2012 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| In office December 21, 1970 – March 5, 1983 | |
| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 |
| Succeeded by | Alicemarie Huber Stotler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Joseph Kelleher (1913-05-05)May 5, 1913 |
| Died | June 20, 2012(2012-06-20) (aged 99) |
| Education | Williams College (AB) Harvard University (JD) |
Tennis career | |
| Country (sports) |  United States |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2000(member page) |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open | 2R (1934,1935) |
Robert Joseph Kelleher (March 5, 1913 – June 20, 2012) was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California and an Americantennis player and official, inducted into theInternational Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.
Born on May 5, 1913, inNew York City, Kelleher received anArtium Baccalaureus degree in 1935 fromWilliams College and aJuris Doctor in 1938 fromHarvard Law School. He was a trial attorney for the United States Trucking Company in New York City from 1939 to 1940. He was an associate attorney for theUnited States Department of the Army inLos Angeles,California from 1941 to 1942. He served in theUnited States Naval Reserve from 1943 to 1945. He was in private practice inSanta Monica, California, from 1945 to 1948. He was anAssistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California from 1948 to 1951. He was in private practice inBeverly Hills from 1951 to 1971.[1]
Kelleher was nominated by PresidentRichard Nixon on December 15, 1970, to theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California, to a new seat authorized by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on December 17, 1970, and received his commission on December 21, 1970. He assumedsenior status on March 5, 1983. Kelleher became the oldest serving federal judge in America in 2012 afterWesley 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]
In 1977, Kelleher served as the judge in the separate trials[4][5] ofChristopher Boyce andAndrew Daulton Lee, the subjects of the 1985 movieThe Falcon and the Snowman and the book of the same name.[3]
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 theUnited States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) in 1967–68, Kelleher helped makeopen 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]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Seat established by 84 Stat. 294 | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California 1970–1983 | Succeeded by |