Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

---

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

Tenure

1997 - Present

Years in position

27

Education

Bachelor's

Marshall University, 1974

Law

West Virginia University College of Law, 1977

Personal

Birthplace

Williamson, W.Va.

float:right;
border:1px solid #FFB81F;
background-color: white;
width: 250px;
font-size: .9em;
margin-bottom:0px;

} .infobox p { margin-bottom: 0; } .widget-row { display: inline-block; width: 100%; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px; } .widget-row.heading { font-size: 1.2em; } .widget-row.value-only { text-align: center; background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.value-only.white { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .widget-row.value-only.black { background-color: #f9f9f9; color: black; } .widget-row.Democratic { background-color: #003388; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Republican { background-color: red; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { background-color: grey; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Libertarian { background-color: #f9d334; color: black; font-weight: bold; } .widget-row.Green { background-color: green; color: white; font-weight: bold; } .widget-key { width: 43%; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold; } .widget-value { width: 57%; float: right; display: inline-block; padding-left: 10px; word-wrap: break-word; } .widget-img { width: 150px; display: block; margin: auto; } .clearfix { clear: both; }

Robert Chambers is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He joined the court in 1997 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Chambers was the chief judge of the court from 2012 to 2017.

Education

Born in Williamson, West Virginia, Chambers graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia with his B.A. in 1974, and graduated from West Virginia University College of Law with his J.D. in 1977.

Professional career

Chambers was a private practice attorney in the State of West Virginia from 1977 to 1997. He served as legal counsel for the West Virginia State Senate in 1978, and was an elected Delegate for the West Virginia House of Delegates (House of Representatives) as a Democratic constituent from 1978 to 1996.

Judicial career

• 2006-present: Judge, Southern District of West Virginia
  • 2012-2017: Chief judge

Federal judicial nomination

Southern District of West Virginia

Chambers was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia by President Bill Clinton on June 5, 1997, to a seat vacated by Elizabeth Hallanan. Chambers was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 5, 1997, on a Senate voice vote and received commission on September 18, 1997.

Noteworthy cases

Judge finds violations of Clean Water Act against mining companies (2014)

Following several days of expert testimony from the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition's witnesses, Judge Chambers found that the Elk Run Coal Company and Alex Energy, two mining companies, allowed ionic pollution to enter nearby waterways. The judge later held that "overwhelming scientific evidence" proved violations of the Clean Water Act had occurred.

Articles:

• Lexology, "Federal district court finds Clean Water Act violations based on elevated levels of 'conductivity'," July 1, 2014
• Crowell & Moring, "Federal District Court Finds Clean Water Act Violations Based on Elevated Levels of 'Conductivity,'" July 1, 2014

Mining and environmentalism in West Virginia (2012)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, et al., v. United States Army Corps of Engineers, et al., 3:05-cv-00784)

Judge Chambers presided over a case involving a mine owned by Consol Energy. The case pertained to the company's ability to stay in operation in the State of West Virginia. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin petitioned the judge to keep the plant after a previous ruling in favor of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, who sued the mining company over how its permit was obtained. On August 10, 2012, Judge Chambers granted the ability of the Army Corps of Engineers to issue the permit to Consol Energy. After the re-institution of the permit, the challenge was brought back before Judge Chambers where the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition attempted to proved to him that irreparable harm would be caused. Judge Chambers denied the claim, but issued a stay against the mining company so that the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition could have time to appeal the ruling.

See also

• United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
• News: Mine permit arguments heard by West Virginia judge, May 13, 2012

External links

• Federal Judicial Center, "Biography of Robert Chambers"
• Southern District of West Virginia, "Honorable Robert C. Chambers, Chief Judge"
• West Virginia Encyclopedia, "Robert C. Chambers"

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia 1997-Present	Succeeded by -