Bork, Robert H.

Bork, Robert H. (Heron)

(1927– ) legal scholar, judge; born in Pittsburgh, Pa. After briefly practicing law (1954–62), he joined the faculty of Yale Law School (1962–81) where he was known for his expertise in constitutional and antitrust law. He was U.S. solicitor general (1971–77) and acting attorney general (1973–74). He was appointed to the federal court of appeals for the District of Columbia (1982–88). President Reagan nominated him to the Supreme Court in 1987, but his conservative views led to his being rejected by a controversial Senate vote. He stepped down from the bench in 1988 to write and lecture on judicial and public policy for the American Enterprise Institute.