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Robert Smith Vance

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · 1977–1981

Robert Smith Vance , Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Robert Smith Vance (May 10, 1931 – December 16, 1989) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was later the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 1981 until his assassination in 1989. He was one of three 20th-century United States federal court judges assassinated because of his judicial service.

Education

  • University of AlabamaB.S., 1950
  • University of Alabama School of LawJ.D., 1952
  • George Washington University Law SchoolLL.M., 1955

Career

U.S. Army first lieutenant, JAG Corps, 1952-1954; U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel (retired); Private practice, Birmingham, Alabama, 1956-1977; Lecturer, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 1967-1969

Biography

Robert Smith Vance (May 10, 1931 – December 16, 1989) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was later the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 1981 until his assassination in 1989. He was one of three 20th-century United States federal court judges assassinated because of his judicial service.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

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From Senate roll call votes, Wikidata, Wikipedia and Office of Government Ethics records.

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Capitol Receipts, “Robert Smith Vance : Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh…,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/appointee/j2452/robert-smith-vance (accessed 2026-10-13).