Robert W. Hemphill
Encyclopedia
Robert Witherspoon Hemphill (May 10, 1915 - December 25, 1983) was a U.S. Representative
from South Carolina
, and later a long-serving United States federal judge
. He was the great-great-nephew of Senator John Hemphill
, great-nephew of John J. Hemphill
, great-nephew of William Huggins Brawley, and great-great-grandson of Robert Witherspoon
.
Born in Chester, South Carolina
, Hemphill attended the public schools. He graduated from the University of South Carolina
in 1936 and from the law school of the same university in 1938. He was admitted to the bar in 1938 and commenced the practice of law in Chester.
He volunteered in 1941 as a flying cadet in the United States Army Air Corps
and served as a bomber pilot until December 1945. After returning from the war, he served as chairman of Chester County Democratic conventions in 1946 and 1947. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1946, serving from 1947 to 1948. He served as solicitor of the Sixth South Carolina Judicial Circuit from 1951 to 1956.
Hemphill was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1957, until his resignation May 1, 1964, to take a federal judicial post. During his Congressional service, he was a delegate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Congress in London
in 1959.
On April 15, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson
nominated Hemphill to a seat on both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina and the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina, vacated by George Bell Timmerman, Sr.
Hemphill was confirmed by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on April 30, 1964. He served as Chief Judge of the Eastern District from 1964 to 1965, but on November 1, 1965, the two District Courts were re-combined, and Hemphill was reassigned by operation of law
to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
. He served as Chief Judge of the entire District from 1979 to 1980, and then assumed senior status
on May 10, 1980.
Hemphill was a resident of Chester until his death there on December 2, 1983. He was interred in Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery, in Chester.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and later a long-serving United States federal judge
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....
. He was the great-great-nephew of Senator John Hemphill
John Hemphill (senator)
John Hemphill was Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, a United States Senator, and a veteran of wars with Native Americans....
, great-nephew of John J. Hemphill
John J. Hemphill
John James Hemphill was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, cousin of William Huggins Brawley, nephew of John Hemphill and great-uncle of Robert Witherspoon Hemphill....
, great-nephew of William Huggins Brawley, and great-great-grandson of Robert Witherspoon
Robert Witherspoon
Robert Witherspoon was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, great-great-grandfather of Robert Witherspoon Hemphill....
.
Born in Chester, South Carolina
Chester, South Carolina
Chester is a small city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 6,476 at the 2000 census and a center urban cluster population of 11,140...
, Hemphill attended the public schools. He graduated from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 1936 and from the law school of the same university in 1938. He was admitted to the bar in 1938 and commenced the practice of law in Chester.
He volunteered in 1941 as a flying cadet in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and served as a bomber pilot until December 1945. After returning from the war, he served as chairman of Chester County Democratic conventions in 1946 and 1947. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
in 1946, serving from 1947 to 1948. He served as solicitor of the Sixth South Carolina Judicial Circuit from 1951 to 1956.
Hemphill was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Eighty-fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1957, until his resignation May 1, 1964, to take a federal judicial post. During his Congressional service, he was a delegate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Congress in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1959.
On April 15, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
nominated Hemphill to a seat on both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of South Carolina and the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina, vacated by George Bell Timmerman, Sr.
George Bell Timmerman, Sr.
George Bell Timmerman, Sr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Edgefield County, South Carolina, Timmerman received an LL.B. from South Carolina College in 1902. He was in private practice in Lexington, South Carolina from 1902 to 1942...
Hemphill 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, on April 30, 1964. He served as Chief Judge of the Eastern District from 1964 to 1965, but on November 1, 1965, the two District Courts were re-combined, and Hemphill 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 the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of South Carolina...
. He served as Chief Judge of the entire District from 1979 to 1980, and then 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 May 10, 1980.
Hemphill was a resident of Chester until his death there on December 2, 1983. He was interred in Hopewell Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery, in Chester.