Robert Patterson (New York)

Robert Patterson

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Prior offices

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

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Education

Bachelor's

Harvard, 1947

Law

Columbia Law, 1950

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

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Robert Porter Patterson, Jr. was a federal judge on senior status with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He joined the court in 1988 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Patterson passed away on April 22, 2015.

Education

Patterson graduated from Harvard University with his bachelor's degree in 1947 and later graduated from Columbia Law School with his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1950.

Military service

Patterson also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1956.

Professional career

• 1967: Minority counsel, U.S. House Select Committee Pursuant House Resolution Number 1
• 1961-1968: Special hearing officer for conscientious objectors, Department of Justice
• 1956-1988: Attorney in private practice
• 1954-1956: Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York
• 1954: Of counsel, U.S. Senate Banking and Currency Committee
• 1953-1954: Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York
• 1952-1953: Assistant counsel, New York State Crime Commission
• 1950-1952: Attorney in private practice

Judicial career

Southern District of New York

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Patterson was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on June 14, 1988, to the seat vacated by Judge Percy Knapp. Patterson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 5, 1988, and received commission on October 6, 1988. Patterson assumed senior status on December 31, 1998. He passed away on April 22, 2015.

Noteworthy cases

Musical age discrimination case (2011)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Martin Stoner launched a lawsuit in March 2011 against Young Concert Artists, a not-for-profit organization that identifies young musical talent partly through sponsoring competitions. Stoner, who was 60 in 2011, alleges that the Young Concert Artists engaged in age discrimination when it did not allow Stoner to participate in a competition because of his age.

The case was assigned to Judge Patterson. Patterson dismissed the case on October 7, 2011, citing fatal irregularities in the brief. After Patterson dismissed Stoner's lawsuit, Stoner struck back by filing a complaint with the federal courts saying that Patterson should not have been allowed to hear the age discrimination lawsuit because Patterson is too old to hear cases.

Juror threats in the Joseph Collins case (2009)

See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

On July 9, 2009, Judge Patterson received a letter from an juror stating: "Although I appreciate your efforts to control the frequent insults I have endured, the threats of bodily harm brings this abuse to a whole new level." Jurors in the fraud trial of Joseph Collins were in the sixth day of emotionally charged deliberations. The former attorney for Refco, Inc. were accused of hiding the brokerage firm's bad debts from investors.

The letter written by the juror to Judge Patterson stated: "Specifically, in a loud and belligerent manner (the juror) threatened to cut off my finger," the letter-writer said, adding that the female fellow juror told him: "I will have my husband take care of you." "I would not allow such threats and intimidation to alter my vote. I am concerned, however, these threats may affect other jurors," the juror also wrote.

Judge Patterson's response to the letters was a simple note to the jury instructing them "to get them back into rational thinking and not to let anger prevail."

Courtroom observers have found out that jury room debates have been so loud and heated that a court officer has had to tell the jurors to settle down. Judge Patterson turned down a defense motion for a mistrial and sent the jurors back to wrap up deliberations. Ultimately, Joseph Collins was found guilty and sentenced to one year and a day in prison and two years of probation.

See also

• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• News: Complaint alleges that federal judge is too old to hear cases, October 24, 2011

External links

• Robert Patterson Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by: Percy Knapp	Southern District of New York 1988–1998	Succeeded by: George Daniels