Background
Peterson, Richard William was born on September 29, 1925 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. Son of Henry K. and Laura May (Robinson) Peterson.
Peterson, Richard William was born on September 29, 1925 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States. Son of Henry K. and Laura May (Robinson) Peterson.
State University of Iowa (Bachelor of Arts, 1949. Juris Doctor, with distinction, 1951). Phi Delta Phi; Delta Sigma Rho.
Omicron Delta Kappa.
Private practice law, Council Bluffs, since 1951. United States commissioner United States District Court (southern district) Iowa, 1958-1970, United States magistrate judge, 1970—1999. Retired, 2005
National faculty Federal Judicial Center, Washington, 1972—1982.
Emeritus trustee Children's Square, United States of America, since 1969. Verifying official International Prisoner Transfer Treaties, Mexico City, 1977, La Paz, Bolivia, 1980—1981, Lima, Peru, 1981. With United States Army, 1943-1946.
"Federal Magistrates Act," Article 56 Iowa Law Review 62 October, 1970. The Court Moves West," Southside Press of the Midlands, Copyright 1988. Member, Board of Directors Council Bluffs Community School District, 1958-1964.President, 1963. United States. Magistrate Southern District of Iowa, since 1970. Member, since 1964, and President, 1978 National Council United States.Magistrates. Verifying Official, Prisoner Transfer Commission, Mexico City, 1977. Bolivia, 1980-1981
Board directors Pottawattamie County chapter American Red Cross, Iowa, state fund chairman, 1957—1958. District chairman Trailblazer district Boy Scouts American, 1952—1955. State chairman Radio Free Europe, 1960—1961.
Member executive council Mid-American Court, since 1976. President St. John Foundation, 1986. Sunday school teacher St. John Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, 1952—1972, council member, 1955—1975.
Fellow: American Bar Foundation (life). Member: American Bar Association, History Society United States Courts 8th Judicial Circuit (president 1989-1999, court historian United States District Court South Dakota and Iowa since 2000), Iowa Conference Bar Association (president 1985-1987), Federal Magistrate Judges Association 1978-1979, Inter-American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Pottawattamie County Bar Association 1979-1980, Iowa Bar Association (chairman committee federal practice 1978-1980, probate and trust council and section since 1997), American Judicature Society, Supreme Court History Society, Masons, Kiwanis (president Council Bluffs), Omicron Delta Kappa, Delta Sigma Rho, Phi Delta Phi.
Married Patricia Mae Fox, August 14, 1949. Children: Katherine Ilene Peterson Sherbondy, Jon Eric, Timothy Richard.