Robert Jackson Staker

Robert Jackson Staker (February 14, 1925 – November 30, 2008) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Kermit, West Virginia, February 14, 1925 to Nada Frazier Staker and Frederick George Staker. Staker was a radioman in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received an LL.B. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1952, and was in private practice in Williamson, West Virginia from 1952 to 1968. He was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Mingo County, West Virginia in 1960. He was a judge on the Circuit Court of Mingo County from 1969 to 1979. Prior to his service on the bench, he was a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia.

Judge Staker, born as Jack Staker (he gave himself the first name Bob as a child, after a co-worker of his father. He said he liked the man and the name. He insisted that everyone call him by his new name, the family acceded and the name Bob eventually evolved into a first name 'Robert' and the given name Jack evolved into the middle name 'Jackson'. He was known for his considerable vocabulary and for his love of etymology. When he was under consideration for appointment to the federal bench he realized that his given name might cause a problem so he went through the steps to legally change it and went before a colleague in neighboring Logan County on a Saturday to make the name official. The recent name change notwithstanding, he was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 11, 1979, and received his commission on September 13, 1979. Judge Staker presided at Huntington, West Virginia, point of holding court, beginning on Monday, September 17, 1979. His first three Law Clerks were Christ Gaetanos, Virginia "Ginna" Colburn and M. Drew Crislip, all of whom went on to distinguished careers in the law. Judge Staker assumed senior status on December 31, 1994, serving in that capacity until his full retirement on September 30, 2005.

Staker died in South Point, Ohio, survived by his wife, Sue, son Donald Seth, brother Donald E., and sister, Virginia. Staker's son J. Timothy Poore, also an attorney, died only weeks before the late Judge. Judge Staker was eulogized, along with other West Virginia judges and lawyers (including his son) who died in 2008, at the 2009 opening session of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia at the State Capitol in Charleston on January 13, 2009. http://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/press/releases/2009-releases/jan13_09.htm