Robert E. Davis
Encyclopedia
Robert E. Davis was the Chief Justice
of the Kansas Supreme Court
from 2009 to 2010. He was first appointed in 1993 and became chief justice on January 12, 2009.
. He graduated from Creighton University
with a Bachelor of Arts
in Political Science in 1961. While there he was President of the Arts Council. He then attended Georgetown University Law Center
where he was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal
. He earned his LL.B. from Georgetown in 1964.
In 1967 he returned to Kansas
to engage in private practice in Leavenworth
which he continued until 1984. Davis' first judicial post was as a magistrate judge in Leavenworth County from 1969 to 1976. He served as an attorney for the State Board of Pharmacy in 1972 and Leavenworth County attorney starting in 1981 until appointed associate district judge in 1984.
Two years later, in 1986 Davis was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals
. In 1993, Governor Joan Finney
promoted him to the Kansas Supreme Court
. In January 2009 he became chief justice when Kay McFarland
resigned due to state mandated age limits.
Davis also held many offices and memberships. He was a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Alcoholism from 1971–1976 under Governor Robert Docking
, chairman of the board of trustees for St. John's Hospital in Leavenworth from 1980–1984, director and president of Leavenworth County Community Corrections Board in 1980–1984, director of the Leavenworth Historical Society from 1970–1975, general counsel and board of directos for Leavenworth National Bank and Trust Co. from 1972–1984, and a council member for St. Mary's College
in 1984. He also served on the Governor's Adoption Reform Task Force under Governor Kathleen Sebelius
and was an officer of the American Inns of Court
.
Davis died on August 4, 2010, one day after retiring from the bench. He was 70 years of age.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
from 2009 to 2010. He was first appointed in 1993 and became chief justice on January 12, 2009.
Personal life
Davis was born in 1939 in Topeka, KansasKansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. He graduated from Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science in 1961. While there he was President of the Arts Council. He then attended Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
where he was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal
Georgetown Law Journal
The Georgetown Law Journal is a student-edited scholarly journal published at Georgetown University Law Center.-Overview:The Journal publishes six issues each year. It also publishes the Annual Review of Criminal Procedure, a comprehensive practitioner's guide to criminal procedure.The first volume...
. He earned his LL.B. from Georgetown in 1964.
Professional life
Davis began his career as a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps where he served as trial counsel in the Republic of Korea and as government appellate counsel in Washington D.C. from 1964 to 1967.In 1967 he returned to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to engage in private practice in Leavenworth
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
which he continued until 1984. Davis' first judicial post was as a magistrate judge in Leavenworth County from 1969 to 1976. He served as an attorney for the State Board of Pharmacy in 1972 and Leavenworth County attorney starting in 1981 until appointed associate district judge in 1984.
Two years later, in 1986 Davis was appointed to the Kansas Court of Appeals
Kansas Court of Appeals
The Kansas Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the U.S. state of Kansas.-History:The Kansas Legislature crated the first Kansas Court of Appeals in 1895, to help the Kansas Supreme Court with an increasingly heavy caseload. The original statute that created the court...
. In 1993, Governor Joan Finney
Joan Finney
Joan Finney , served as the 42nd Governor of Kansas from 1991 to 1995.She was born Joan Marie McInroy in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard and Mary Sands McInroy. She graduated from high school in Manhattan, Kansas in 1942. In 1957, she married Spencer Finney, Jr...
promoted him to the Kansas Supreme Court
Kansas Supreme Court
The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas. Composed of seven justices, led by Chief Justice Lawton Nuss, the Court supervises the legal profession, administers over the judicial branch, and serves as the state court of last resort in the appeals...
. In January 2009 he became chief justice when Kay McFarland
Kay McFarland
Kay McFarland is the former Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. During her 35 years as a judge she broke many gender barriers in Kansas. She was the first female elected to a judgeship in Shawnee County, Kansas, first appointed to the state Supreme Court, and first to hold the title of chief...
resigned due to state mandated age limits.
Davis also held many offices and memberships. He was a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Alcoholism from 1971–1976 under Governor Robert Docking
Robert Docking
Robert Blackwell Docking, , was the 38th Governor of Kansas from 1967 until 1975.Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Docking attended public school in Lawrence, Kansas, before attending the University of Kansas, and served in the Air Force during World War II...
, chairman of the board of trustees for St. John's Hospital in Leavenworth from 1980–1984, director and president of Leavenworth County Community Corrections Board in 1980–1984, director of the Leavenworth Historical Society from 1970–1975, general counsel and board of directos for Leavenworth National Bank and Trust Co. from 1972–1984, and a council member for St. Mary's College
St. Mary's College, Kansas
Saint Mary's Academy and College is a religious school of the Society of St. Pius X located in St. Marys, Kansas, 25 miles west of Topeka.- St. Mary's College :...
in 1984. He also served on the Governor's Adoption Reform Task Force under Governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
and was an officer of the American Inns of Court
American Inns of Court Foundation
American Inns of Court are designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar. An American Inn of Court is an amalgam of judges, lawyers, and in some cases, law professors and law students...
.
Davis died on August 4, 2010, one day after retiring from the bench. He was 70 years of age.