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Robert S. Cockrell

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Robert Spratt Cockrell (January 22, 1866 – June 23, 1957) was a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court from December 1, 1902 to January 2, 1917.[1]

Cockrell's appointment was inadvertent. Governor William Sherman Jennings had meant to appoint Robert's brother Alston Cockrell.[2]

Cockrell served on the court until he was defeated in his third reelection campaign by Jefferson B. Browne in 1916.[1] He allegedly lost the election because an opinion he wrote that alienated railroad interests which then lobbied for Browne.[3] He lectured at the University of Florida College of Law from 1919 till 1940, and his students included Harold Sebring and Richard Ervin.[1]

He was on the losing side of a 3-2 decision on referendums that was passed by both the House and Senate in Florida but not signed.[4]

Cockrell was born in Livingston, Alabama[5][1] He obtained his bachelors, masters and law degrees from the University of Virginia, then going on to study for a year at Humboldt University in Berlin.[1] He then passed the bar two years later in 1891.[1]

He wife Cortney the daughter of a Florida governor had died before him, they had two daughters and one son.[6]

He died in Miami, Florida at the age of 91.[6] He had been living in Coconut Grove with one of his daughters at this time.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Justice Robert Spratt Cockrell". Supreme Court. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. ^ "University of Miami Law School - A History of the Florida Supreme Court" (PDF). core.ac.uk. 1981. p. 1045. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. ^ Joseph A. Boyd Jr., Randall Reder, "A History of the Florida Supreme Court", University of Miami Law Review (1981), p. 1045.
  4. ^ https://www.jstor.org/stable/30084857?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Affee8392f32633772d7088656fc4fd62&seq=11#page_scan_tab_contents
  5. ^ Erik Robinson, "Florida Supreme Court Justices: List of Life Dates", Florida Supreme Court Historical Society (June 2010).
  6. ^ a b c "24 Jun 1957, 29 - The Miami News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
Newly created seat
Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
1902–1917
Succeeded by