Robert Love Taylor

Who was Robert Love Taylor?

Robert Love Taylor was a United States federal judge.

Born in Embreeville, Tennessee, Taylor was the son of longtime Tennessee politician Alfred A. Taylor, and was named for Alfred's brother, Robert Love Taylor, also very active in Tennessee politics. Taylor received a Ph.B. from Milligan College in 1922 and read law to enter the bar in 1923, also receiving an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1924. He was a Semi-professional baseball player in Summers, Tennessee from 1920 to 1922. He was in private practice in Johnson City, Tennessee from 1924 to 1949.

On November 2, 1949, Taylor received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee vacated by George C. Taylor. Formally nominated on January 5, 1950, Taylor was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 8, 1950, and received his commission on March 9, 1950. He served as chief judge from 1961 to 1969. He assumed senior status on January 15, 1984, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1987.