Western District of Michigan / Appointed 1987 / Served to 2023

Robert Holmes Bell

Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan

Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and confirmed by voice vote, Robert Holmes Bell was a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. He earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1969. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, July 1, 1987

Appointed by
Ronald Reagan, 1987
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
Wheaton College, Illinois 1966 · Wayne State Law School 1969
Succeeded by
Hala Yalda Jarbou
Federal judicial service
YearCourtAppointed byVote
1987Western District of Michigan · succeeded Wendell Alverson MilesReagan (R)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
Sources

35 years on the Western District of Michigan. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).