Robert Nugen Wilkin
Encyclopedia
Robert Nugen Wilkin was a United States federal judge
.
Born in New Philadelphia, Ohio
, Wilkin received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
in 1908. He was in private practice in New Philadelphia, Ohio
from 1908 with his brother, David R., and his father, J. Foster Wilkin
, under the name Wilkin and Wilkin. In 1912, his brother moved to Cleveland, Ohio
, and his father was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court, and he continued the firm as Wilkin and Fernsell He was a member of the Judicial Council of Ohio from 1932 to 1933. He was a judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio
in 1934. He was counsel to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
in Ohio from 1935 to 1939.
On May 19, 1939, Wilkin was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
vacated by Samuel H. West
. Wilkin was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 1, 1939, and received his commission on June 3, 1939. He assumed senior status
on August 31, 1949, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1973. He died at Cleveland, and was buried at the Wilkin family mausoleum at Maple Grove Cemetery in New Philadelphia.
Wilkin was a Mason
, an Elks Lodge
member, Delta Kappa Epsilon
, Phi Delta Phi
, and a Presbyterian Church member. In 1911 he married Norma Fertig of Dover, Ohio
, and their only child, a daughter born in 1912, died in 1918.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Philadelphia is a city in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States, 71 miles south of Cleveland on the Tuscarawas River. It was first incorporated in 1808. Coal and clay are found in the vicinity...
, Wilkin received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1908. He was in private practice in New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Philadelphia, Ohio
New Philadelphia is a city in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States, 71 miles south of Cleveland on the Tuscarawas River. It was first incorporated in 1808. Coal and clay are found in the vicinity...
from 1908 with his brother, David R., and his father, J. Foster Wilkin
J. Foster Wilkin
J. Foster Wilkin was a lawyer in the U.S. State of Ohio who was an Ohio Supreme Court Judge from 1912 to his death.-Biography:...
, under the name Wilkin and Wilkin. In 1912, his brother moved to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and his father was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court, and he continued the firm as Wilkin and Fernsell He was a member of the Judicial Council of Ohio from 1932 to 1933. He was a judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio
Supreme Court of Ohio
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the highest court in the U.S. state of Ohio, with final authority over interpretations of Ohio law and the Ohio Constitution. The court has seven members, a chief justice and six associate justices, each serving six-year terms...
in 1934. He was counsel to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan for flood reduction and water conservation in the Muskingum River Watershed, the state's largest wholly contained watershed, covering more than...
in Ohio from 1935 to 1939.
On May 19, 1939, Wilkin was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio...
vacated by Samuel H. West
Samuel H. West
Samuel H. West was a United States federal judge.Born in Waubeck, Iowa, West read law to enter the bar in 1893, and entered private practice in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He served in the United States Army, Second Ohio Infantry, during the Spanish-American War...
. Wilkin 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...
on June 1, 1939, and received his commission on June 3, 1939. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on August 31, 1949, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1973. He died at Cleveland, and was buried at the Wilkin family mausoleum at Maple Grove Cemetery in New Philadelphia.
Wilkin was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, an Elks Lodge
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
member, Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
, Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi
Phi Delta Phi, ΦΔΦ, is the world's second largest legal fraternity. Phi Delta Phi is the second oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States and third oldest in North America...
, and a Presbyterian Church member. In 1911 he married Norma Fertig of Dover, Ohio
Dover, Ohio
Dover is a city in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,210 at the 2000 census.-History and features:Dover was originally part of a grant to Col. James Morrison of Kentucky, who had received it from the federal government for Revolutionary War services...
, and their only child, a daughter born in 1912, died in 1918.