Robert W. Merkle, Jr. (1944-2003) was an American attorney who served as

U.S. 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 ...

in the Middle District of Florida from 1982 to 1988. He also ran for governor of Florida and in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. He prosecuted drug lords, politicians, and judges.

Early life

Merkle went to St. Leo Preparatory School outside Tampa where he was an accomplished athlete. He received a football scholarship to Notre Dame where he played fullback during his junior year before being sidelined by injuries his senior year.

Career

He worked as a prosecutor for the Justice Department and as an assistant state attorney in the Pasco-Pinellas county circuit before being appointed U.S. attorney in April 1982. He was an outspoken opponent of abortion. He lost to

Connie Mack III Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III (born October 29, 1940), also known as Connie Mack III, is an American retired Republican politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida from 1983 to 1989 and th ...

in the Republican Primary for the

1988 United States Senate election in Florida The 1988 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Connie Mack III won the open seat, becoming the first ...

. He was U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida.

Personal life

Merkle was Catholic. He had eight children. He was a smoker.

References

United States Attorneys for the Middle District of Florida American political candidates American prosecutors 20th-century American lawyers Florida lawyers {{DEFAULTSORT:Merkle, Robert 1944 births 2003 deaths