District of Columbia Circuit / Appointed 1982 / Served to 1988
Portrait of Robert Heron Bork

Robert Heron Bork

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982 and confirmed by voice vote, Robert Heron Bork was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He earned a law degree from University of Chicago Law School in 1953. Sources ↓

Lived
1927–2012
Appointed by
Ronald Reagan, 1982
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
University of Chicago 1948 · University of Chicago Law School 1953
Succeeded by
Clarence Thomas

Federal judicial service

YearCourtAppointed byVote
1982District of Columbia Circuit
succeeded Carl E. McGowan
Reagan (R)Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Before the bench

Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.

U.S. Marine Corps1945-1946, 1950-1952
Private practice, Chicago, Illinois1955-1962
Professor, Yale Law School1962-1981
Solicitor general of the United States1973-1977
Acting attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice1973-1974
Private practice, Washington, D.C.1981-1982

Questions & answers

Who appointed Robert Heron Bork?
President Ronald Reagan appointed Robert Heron Bork to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1982.
Was Robert Heron Bork appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
Robert Heron Bork was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Robert Heron Bork's confirmation vote?
Robert Heron Bork was confirmed by voice vote on February 8, 1982. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was Robert Heron Bork on?
Robert Heron Bork was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Sources

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5 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).