Born in
Madison, New Jersey, Robinson received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from
Cornell University in 1943, where he became a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Robinson then served in the
United States Army until 1946, receiving a
Bachelor of Laws from
Cornell Law School in 1947.
Federal judicial service On October 6, 1966, Robinson was nominated by President
Lyndon B. Johnson to a seat on the
United States District Court for the District of Columbia vacated by Judge
Matthew Francis McGuire. Robinson was confirmed by the
United States Senate on October 20, 1966, and received his commission on November 3, 1966. He served as Chief Judge from 1982 to 1992, and assumed
senior status on March 1, 1992. He served in that capacity until his death.
Notable cases Robinson awarded punitive damages to the families of victims of
Korean Air Lines Flight 007, though the decision was overturned by a higher court. He sentenced
Jonathan Pollard to life in prison in 1987, citing information provided from Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger that Pollard's spying on behalf of Israel had caused significant damage to American security interests. Pollard had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government and had agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in exchange for a lesser sentence than the maximum provided under law. ==Personal life and death==