Robert S. Cockrell

Robert Spratt Cockrell (January 22, 1866 – June 23, 1957) was a justice of the Florida Supreme Court from December 1, 1902, to January 2, 1917.[1]

Painted portrait of Florida Supreme Court Justice Robert S. Cockrell (circa 1900)

Cockrell's appointment was inadvertent. Governor William Sherman Jennings had meant to appoint Robert's brother Alston Cockrell.[2]

Cockrell served on the court until he was defeated in his third reelection campaign by Jefferson B. Browne in 1916.[1] He allegedly lost the election because an opinion he wrote that alienated railroad interests which then lobbied for Browne.[3] He lectured at the University of Florida College of Law from 1919 until 1940, and his students included Harold Sebring and Richard Ervin.[1]

He was on the losing side of a 3-2 decision on referendums that was passed by both the House and Senate in Florida but not signed.[4]

Cockrell was born in Livingston, Alabama[5][1] He obtained his bachelor's degree, masters and law degrees from the University of Virginia, then going on to study for a year at Humboldt University in Berlin.[1] He then passed the bar two years later in 1891.[1]

He wife Cortney the daughter of a Florida governor had died before him, they had two daughters and one son.[6]

He died in Miami, Florida at the age of 91.[6] He had been living in Coconut Grove with one of his daughters at this time.[6]