Robert Smith Vance

Robert Smith Vance (May 10, 1931 – December 16, 1989) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and later the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He was one of three 20th-century United States federal court judges assassinated because of his judicial service. Early life and career Born in Talladega, Alabama, Vance was the youngest of four children born to parents Harrell Taylor Vance Sr. and Mae ( Smith) Vance. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Woodlawn High School. He then received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in 1950, and a Juris Doctor from University of Alabama School of Law in 1952. While at Alabama, Vance was purportedly the head of a secret yet powerful inter-fraternity organization known as The Machine and was elected as President of the Student Government Association. After law school, Vance entered military duty as an attorney in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps and was stationed at the Pentagon. One of his first assignments was to serve on the team of lawyers defending the Army in hearings against charges brought by Senator Joseph McCarthy.