Roy Laverne Stephenson (March 14, 1917 – November 5, 1982) was a

United States circuit judge In the United States, a federal judge is a judge who serves on a court established under Article Three of the U.S. Constitution. Often called "Article III judges", federal judges include the chief justice and associate justices of the U.S. Su ...

of the

United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (in case citations, 8th Cir.) is a United States federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the following United States district courts: * Eastern District of Arkansas * Western ...

and previously was a United States district judge of the

United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (except for patent claims an ...

Education and career

Born in Spirit Lake,

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

, Stephenson graduated from high school in nearby Spencer, Iowa. He received a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

degree from the

State University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 colleges offer ...

(now

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

) in 1938, followed by a

Juris Doctor A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...

from the State University of Iowa College of Law in 1940. He was a second lieutenant in the

United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed ...

from 1938 to 1941, while serving in private practice in Mapleton, Iowa from 1940 to 1941. After the United States entered

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served in North Africa and Italy with the 34th Infantry Division of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of captain. He was in private practice in

Des Moines Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

, Iowa from 1946 to 1953 until President

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

nominated him to serve as the

United States Attorney United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal ...

for the Southern District of Iowa, a position he held from 1953 to 1960. Before his appointment, while serving as chairman of the Polk County Republican Central Committee, Stephenson had been an early and active supporter of Eisenhower's candidacy."Judge is 'Man in a Hurry,'" Mason City Globe-Gazette, 1960-05-31, p. 1.

Federal judicial service

Stephenson was nominated by President

on May 16, 1960, to a seat on the

vacated by Judge Edwin Richley Hicklin. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...

on May 26, 1960, and received his commission on May 31, 1960. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1971. His service was terminated on July 6, 1971, due to his elevation to the Eighth Circuit. Stephenson was nominated by President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

on June 1, 1971, to a seat on the

vacated by Judge Martin Donald Van Oosterhout. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 18, 1971, and received his commission on June 22, 1971. He assumed senior status on April 1, 1982. His service was terminated on November 5, 1982, due to his death.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Roy Laverne 1917 births 1982 deaths 20th-century American lawyers Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa Lawyers from Des Moines, Iowa People from Spirit Lake, Iowa People from Spencer, Iowa People from Mapleton, Iowa People from Polk County, Iowa United States Army officers United States attorneys for the Southern District of Iowa United States court of appeals judges appointed by Richard Nixon United States district court judges appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower University of Iowa alumni University of Iowa College of Law alumni