Western District of Missouri / Appointed 1962 / Served to 1990
John Watkins Oliver
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 and confirmed by voice vote, John Watkins Oliver was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He earned a law degree from University of Missouri School of Law in 1936. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, April 2, 1962
- Appointed by
- John F. Kennedy, 1962
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- University of Missouri 1933 · University of Missouri Law 1936
- Succeeded
- Randle Jasper Smith
- Succeeded by
- D. Brook Bartlett
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Western District of Missouri · succeeded Randle Jasper Smith | Kennedy (D) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| University of Missouri | A.B. | 1933 |
| University of Missouri School of Law | LL.B. | 1936 |
Sources
28 years on the Western District of Missouri. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).