After earning his B.A. from Alfred University, Bob went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. Upon graduation, he went on to serve as a Captain in the US Army in the Judge Advocates General Corp. After serving our country in that capacity, he joined the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office, taught law at the University of Arizona, and serve as a Superior Court Judge and Justice of the Peace.
In 1995, Bob founded an alternative to the Public Defender’s Office known as the Office of the Legal Defender. This office was determined to ensure that all defendants receive a fair, accurate, and just trial regardless of economic circumstances. “Bob was motivated by a strong sense of justice…He was drawn to the challenge of defending people who were facing serious legal consequences and was passionate about advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and committed to the public defense work as a way of making a meaningful impact within the criminal justice system.”
Ten days after his passing in 2013, Bob was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service to the Arizona Public Defense community.