Background
Born in Longview, Texas, Robert M. Parker grew up in Hallsville, Texas and was named class president of his class at Hallsville High School.
Born in Longview, Texas, Robert M. Parker grew up in Hallsville, Texas and was named class president of his class at Hallsville High School.
Kilgore College.
After high school, Parker entered Kilgore College before entering the United States Naval Academy. He returned to Texas in 1958, got married and began taking classes part-time at East Texas Baptist University and Abilene Christian University. Parker earned a bachelor"s degree in 1961 from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1964.
Robert Parker worked in private legal practice in Gilmer, Texas from 1964 until 1965, and then in his native Longview in 1965.
From 1965 until 1966, he worked as an administrative assistant to United States. Republican Ray Roberts.
On February 6, 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated Robert Parker to a newly created seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 24, 1979. He became the chief judge of his district from 1990 until 1994.
On January 27, 1994, President Bill Clinton nominated Robert Parker to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to fill the seat vacated by Samuel Doctorate. Johnson, Junior., who had taken senior status in May 1991.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 15, 1994. Rather than take senior status, Judge Parker retired outright from the federal bench on November 1, 2002 and chose to go back to private legal practice. In 2002 he formed the law firm of Parker, Bunt & Ainsworth in Tyler, Texas, specializing in patent litigation, business litigation and arbitration.
He also serves as a Trustee for the Haliburton Asbestos Trust.