Robert Morris (judge)
Encyclopedia
Robert Morris was a New Jersey
attorney and judge, serving in both state and federal courts.
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. In 1777, he was named Chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, until 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.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
attorney and judge, serving in both state and federal courts.
Morris was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
and read law to enter the Bar in 1770. He engaged in private practice in New Brunswick through 1776. In 1777, he was named Chief justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, until 1779. He thereafter returned to private practice until 1790.
Morris received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
on August 28, 1790 to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of New Jersey....
vacated by the death of David Brearley
David Brearley
David Brearley was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention and signed the U.S...
. Morris was formally nominated to the seat on December 17, 1790, and three days later he was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
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
Operation of law
The phrase "by operation of law" is a legal term that indicates that a right or liability has been created for a party, irrespective of the intent of that party, because it is dictated by existing legal principles. For example, if a person dies without a will, his heirs are determined by operation...
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.