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 "excerpt": "Robert Lewis Hinkle is an American jurist, a senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Florida appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.",
 "snippet": "Robert Lewis Hinkle is an American jurist, a senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Florida appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.",
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 "markdown": "# Robert L. Hinkle\n\nRobert Lewis Hinkle (born 1951) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida since 2016.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He was appointed to the court by President Bill Clinton, receiving his commission in 1996.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He served as chief judge of the court from 2004 to 2009 before assuming senior status (semi-retired judge still hearing reduced caseload).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | July 25, 1996, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n| Senior status | November 7, 2016<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n| Born | 1951, Apalachicola, Florida<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Florida State University, 1972; J.D., Harvard Law School, 1976<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHinkle was born in 1951 in [Apalachicola](https://www.edgepedia.org/apalachicola), Florida.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Florida State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/florida-state-university) in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1976.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Hinkle served as a law clerk to Judge Irving Goldberg of the [United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-court-of-appeals-for-the-fifth-circuit) from 1976 to 1977.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He then practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1977 to 1978, and in [Tallahassee, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/tallahassee-florida), from 1978 to 1996.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> In 1981, he was an adjunct professor of law at Florida State University.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He served as a member of the [Judicial Conference of the United States](https://www.edgepedia.org/judicial-conference-of-the-united-states) from 2006 to 2007.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [Bill Clinton](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-clinton) nominated Hinkle to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida on June 6, 1996, to a seat vacated by Judge William Stafford.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> The Senate confirmed him by voice vote on July 25, 1996, and he received his commission on August 1, 1996.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He served as chief judge of the Northern District of Florida from 2004 to 2009.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup> He assumed senior status on November 7, 2016, and continues to serve in that capacity.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Robert Lewis Hinkle](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382196)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames H*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Robert L. Hinkle\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Robert L. Hinkle](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
 "credit_html": "\"<a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle\">Robert L. Hinkle</a>\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle\">https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-l-hinkle</a>. <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\">Edgepedia Community License 1.0</a>.",
 "speakable": "Robert Lewis Hinkle is an American jurist, a senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Florida appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1996."
}