Appointed by George Washington Succeeded by David Brearley Preceded by Vacant | Governor William Livingston Preceded by David Brearley Name Robert Morris | |
Succeeded by William Sanford Pennington | ||
Robert Morris (1745 – June 2, 1815) was a New Jersey attorney and judge, serving in both state and federal courts.
Career
A son of New Jersey Chief Justice Robert Hunter Morris, and grandson of former Governor Lewis Morris, Robert Morris was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and read law to enter the Bar in 1770. He engaged in private practice in New Brunswick through 1776.
On September 6, 1776, by Joint Meeting of the New Jersey Legislature, Morris was appointed Clerk of Bergen County. On February 5, 1777, the Legislature named him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the office once held by his father. On November 6, 1778 Morris resigned as Bergen County Clerk. He continued to serve as Chief Justice until his resignation from that office on May 25, 1779. He thereafter returned to private practice until 1790.
Morris received a recess appointment from President George Washington on August 28, 1790 to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey vacated by the death of David Brearley. Morris was formally nominated to the seat on December 17, 1790, and three days later he was confirmed by the United States Senate and received his commission. When the District of New Jersey was divided into the Eastern District of New Jersey and the Western District of New Jersey on February 13, 1801, Morris was reassigned by operation of law to both of the newly created districts. The two districts were re-consolidated into a single court on July 1, 1802, and Morris was again reassigned by operation of law to his original appointment. He served until his death, in New Brunswick.