Thomas Hagan Roberts (January 4, 1902 – January 7, 1976) was an American attorney and jurist who served as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Early life and education

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Roberts received his bachelor's degree from

Fordham University Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...

and his J.D. degree from

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law (Boston Law or BU Law) is the law school of Boston University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and considered an eli ...

. During World War II, he served as director of Rhode Island Civil Defense and chairman of the Rhode Island Bureau of Police and Fire.

Career

From 1949 to 1950, Roberts served as chief counsel of the United Nations War Crimes Commission. Roberts was appointed to the judgeship for the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, by President

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

, and served from 1950 to 1952. Roberts served on the Rhode Island Superior Court in 1951 and was appointed to succeed Justice

Jeremiah E. O'Connell Jeremiah Edward O'Connell (July 8, 1883 – September 18, 1964) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island. Born in Wakefield, Massachusetts, O'Connell attended the public schools. He was graduated from Boston University in 1906 and from the la ...

on the Rhode Island Supreme Court in 1956,"Andrews, Roberts, Paolino Named To Three Vacancies On State Supreme Court", ''

Newport Daily News ''The Newport Daily News'' is a six-day daily newspaper serving Newport County, Rhode Island. It publishes in the mornings on weekdays (Monday through Friday) and in the morning on Saturdays. The ''Daily News'' was the state's largest family-owne ...

(January 18, 1956), p. 1. serving until 1976, and as chief justice from 1966 to 1976.United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico-Thomas Hagen Roberts (1950-1951)
/ref> He was the brother of Rhode Island Governor Dennis J. Roberts.

References

Guillermo A. Baralt Guillermo A. Baralt is a Puerto Rican historian. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Duquesne University in 1970. Later he continued his studies in the University of Chicago where he earned his Master's and Doctor's degrees. He is currently ...

, ''History of the Federal Court in Puerto Rico: 1899-1999'' (2004) (also published in Spanish as ''Historia del Tribunal Federal de Puerto Rico'') 1902 births 1976 deaths Lawyers from Providence, Rhode Island Fordham University alumni Boston University School of Law alumni Chief Justices of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico United States Article I federal judges appointed by Harry S. Truman 20th-century American judges Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island {{US-federal-judge-stub