Edward D. Robertson Jr.

Edward D. "Chip" Robertson Jr. (born May 1, 1952) is a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. Robertson was 33 years old when then-Governor John Ashcroft appointed him to serve on the court, and he served from 1985 to 1998.^[1] His appointment - Ashcroft's first to the high court - led to claims that the non-partisan Missouri Plan for appointing judges was actually a highly partisan process;^[2] twenty years later, Robertson would join opposition to Republican efforts to dismantle the system. In 1998 he left the Supreme Court to join a Kansas City firm which led Missouri's lawsuit against tobacco companies.^[3]

Edward D. "Chip" Robertson Jr.
Chief Justice of Missouri
In office July 1, 1991 – June 30, 1993
Preceded by	Charles Blakey Blackmar
Succeeded by	Ann K. Covington
Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri
In office June 28, 1985 – July 15, 1998
Appointed by	John Ashcroft
Preceded by	George F. Gunn Jr.
Succeeded by	Michael A. Wolff
Personal details
Born	(1952-05-01) May 1, 1952 (age 73) Durham, North Carolina
Spouse	Renee Ann Beal
Alma mater	Westminster College Southern Methodist University University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law John F. Kennedy School of Government University of Virginia School of Law

Electoral politics

As early as 2005, Robertson was rumored to be mulling a challenge to then-Governor Matt Blunt in the 2008 Republican primary, but ultimately declined.^[4][5]

Kevin Strickland case

In 2021, Robertson's assistance was enlisted to help seek the exoneration of Kevin Strickland, who had spent 43 years in prison despite substantial indications of complete innocence of murders committed in a Kansas City home invasion.^[6]