Biography

12/17/1910 - 08/11/2006

Judge Robert Lee Jacobs (D31) Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry Counties 1937-1940 

Early Life:

Judge Robert Lee Jacobs, born December 17, 1910, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; son of Thomas Ralph and Flora Alma Lee Jacobs; Carlisle High School, 1928; Dickinson College (A.B.), 1932; Dickinson School of Law, (LL.B.), 1935; attorney, member of Cumberland County bar and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; district attorney, Cumberland County, 1936; lieutenant, United States Navy, Washington, D.C., World War II; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate 1937-1940; elected, Judge, Cumberland County, 1955-1964; elected, Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1964-1978; president judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1978-1979; Chairman of the Board, 1979-1994, Frog Switch and Manufacturing Company, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Chief Executive Officer, Frog Switch and Manufacturing Company, 1979-1989; married, Anne Blain Hays, children, Elizabeth Jamieson Boyle, Ann Blaine Jacobs Compton; died, August 11, 2006, (age 95) Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, interment, Ashland Cemetery, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Cumberland, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry Counties, 1937-1940; elected at 26 years old.

Elected, Judge, Cumberland County, 1955-1964. 

Elected, Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1964-1978; president judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1978-1979.

Legacy:

Ran for Cumberland County judge against the incumbent, Republican Mark E. Garber. Judge Garber was on the stand in the courthouse on the Square in Carlisle when a defendant in a support case pulled out a gun and started shooting, killing one of his estranged wife's lawyers and injuring the other lawyer and the judge. 
Jacobs announced he would not campaign until his opponent had recovered, and figured his cause was lost. However, this gesture endeared him to voters and prompted several praising newspaper editorials - and Jacobs won.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "J"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Sentinel, The (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) Saturday August 12, 2006.

Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Sunday, August 13, 2006.

Robert Lee Jacobs (1910-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial