Our History: Featured Alumni/ae: Roberts, Floyd H., 1900

Judge, Corporation Court of the City of Bristol

Floyd Roberts was born on March 29, 1879. A graduate of the Law Department of the University of Virginia, Roberts practiced law in Bristol, Virginia. Prior to his federal appointment, he served as Commonwealth's Attorney and, from September 5, 1914, judge of the Corporation Court of the City of Bristol. Franklin D. Roosevelt gave Roberts a recess appointment on July 6, 1938 to the new second seat on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and in January 1939 sent his nomination for the position to the Senate. The two Virginia senators, Harry F. Byrd and Carter Glass, who generally opposed New Deal legislation, disapproved of Roosevelt’s selection of Roberts. Despite the support of the current governor, and two former ones, the Judiciary Committee recommended against confirming Roberts, by a vote of 14-3, due to the Senators’ objections, and the Senate ultimately voted against Roberts 72-9. Having resigned his state judgeship to take the recess appointment, Roberts then returned to private practice in Bristol, and litigated cases as counsel before his successors as judge in both state and federal court. He died on January 29, 1967.