Robert Kugler

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Robert Kugler is a federal judge on senior status for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush (R). He assumed senior status on November 2, 2018.

Kugler was also a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts on May 19, 2017 and retired on May 31, 2024.^[1]^[2]

Biography

Early life and education

Born in Camden, New Jersey, Kugler graduated from Syracuse University with his bachelor's degree in 1975 and from Rutgers University Camden Law School with his Juris Doctor degree in 1978.^[3]

Professional career

Kugler was a law clerk to District Judge John Gerry in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1978 to 1979. From 1979 to 1981, Kugler served as assistant prosecutor for the Camden County, New Jersey, prosecutor's office. Kugler was deputy attorney general for the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety from 1981 to 1982. From 1982 to 1992, Kugler was a private practice attorney in New Jersey.^[3]

Judicial career

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (2017-2024)

Kugler also served on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He was appointed on May 19, 2017, and retired on May 31, 2024.^[4]^[2]

District of New Jersey (2002-2018)

Kugler was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey by President George W. Bush (R) on August 1, 2002, to a seat vacated by Joseph Irenas as Irenas assumed senior status. Kugler was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 14, 2002, on a Senate voice vote. He received commission on December 4, 2002. Kugler assumed senior status November 2, 2018.^[5]^[6]

Magistrate, District of New Jersey (1992-2002)

Kugler was a Federal Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1992 to 2002.^[3]

Noteworthy cases

FAA inspector bribery case (2011)

See also: United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (USA v. Bishop, 1:11-cr-00742-RBK)

On October 27, 2011, FAA safety inspector Harrington Bishop plead guilty to federal bribery charges before Judge Kugler. Bishop was charged with receiving illegal gratuities for taking pilots up on test flights while he was off duty. This resulted those pilots being officially licensed, certified, certificated or otherwise by the FAA even though the flights were not authorized.^[7] He was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.^[8]

For the full story, please see this page.