Robert Pratt

Robert Pratt
Do you have a photo that could go here? Submit it for this profile by emailing us!
Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Title:	Senior Judge
Position:	Seat #3T
Service:
Appointed by:	Bill Clinton
Active:	May 27, 1997 - 7/1/2012
Chief:	2006 - 2011
Senior:	7/1/2012 - Present
Preceded by:	Harold Vietor
Succeeded by:	Stephanie Rose
Personal History
Born:	1947
Home State:	Emmetsburg, IA
Bachelors:	Loras College, B.A., 1969
Law School:	Creighton U. School of Law, J.D., 1972

Robert Pratt is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. He joined the court in 1997 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Pratt served as the Chief Judge of the Court from 2006-2011. On July 1, 2012 Robert Pratt assumed senior status after serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa for 15 years.

Pratt is a member of the National Advisory Council of the American Judicature Society.

Early life and education

Born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, Pratt graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College with his Associate Degree in 1967 and later graduated from Loras College, in Duboque, IA in 1969. Pratt obtained his Juris Doctor degree from from Creighton University School of Law in 1972.

Professional career

Pratt was a Staff Attorney for the Polk County Legal Aid Society assisting low-income and indigent clients from 1973 to 1974 before entering private practice in the State of Iowa from 1975 to 1997.

Judicial career

Southern District of Iowa

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Pratt was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa by President Bill Clinton on January 7, 1997 to a seat vacated by Harold Vietor. Pratt was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 23, 1997 and received commission on May 27, 1997. On July 1, 2012 Robert Pratt assumed senior status after serving on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa for 15 years. He was succeeded to this post by Stephanie Rose.

Notable cases

A notable case on this page needs to be updated.

---

Judge approves Federal government’s request to seize pension

United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa      *US v Cunningham US 09-1037

IOWA CITY, Iowa: Last Monday, Judge Robert Pratt granted the Federal government’s petition to seize the $2,700 monthly pension of Ramona Cunningham. Cummingham is serving a seven-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2008 for her part in misspending an approximate $2.5 million in Iowa public funds on excessive salaries and bonuses for administrators of the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium between 2003 and 2006. Judge Pratt ruled that the full 100% of Cummingham’s pension can be seized by the Federal government wile she is in prison, but that it would have be reduced to 25% upon her release. The money will be put towards the $1.65 million restitution that she and a co-defendant have been ordered to pay. To date, Cummingham has only paid $1,111 towards the restitution, even though she has received over $153,000 in pension payments while incarcerated. Cummingham’s attorneys have resisted any move by the government to seize her pension.

See also

• United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
• News: Chief Judge Pratt to retire from federal district court in Iowa, July 12, 2011

External links

• Judge Robert Pratt FJC Bio

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Harold Vietor	Southern District of Iowa 1997–2012 Seat #3T	Succeeded by: Stephanie Rose