Robert B. Krupansky

Robert B. Krupansky
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
In office July 1, 1991 – November 8, 2004
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
In office March 10, 1982 – July 1, 1991
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Paul Charles Weick
Succeeded by	Karen Nelson Moore
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
In office October 16, 1970 – March 19, 1982
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Seat established by 84 Stat. 294
Succeeded by	Samuel H. Bell
Personal details
Born	Robert Bazil Krupansky (1921-08-15)August 15, 1921 Cleveland, Ohio
Died	November 4, 2004(2004-11-04) (aged 83) Cleveland, Ohio
Education	Case Western Reserve University (B.A.) Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D.)

Robert Bazil Krupansky (August 15, 1921 – November 8, 2004) was a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Education and career

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Krupansky was in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1946, and a Bachelor of Laws from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1948. He was a United States Air Force Reserve Colonel from 1946 to 1972. He was in private practice in Cleveland from 1948 to 1951. He was an assistant state attorney general of Ohio from 1951 to 1957. He was the Director of the Ohio Department of Liquor Control from 1957 to 1958. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio from 1958 to 1959. He was in private practice in Cleveland from 1960 to 1969. He was a legal consultant for the City of Mayfield Heights, Ohio from 1960 to 1964. He was a special counsel to the state attorney general of Ohio from 1964 to 1968. He was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio from 1969 to 1970.

A June 30th 1970 fiscal year-end Memorandum by Krupansky's First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Jones summarized their achievements: “The following is a review of significant progress, achievement and occurrences in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio from July 1, 1969 to the present (fiscal year 1970).” 552 cases were terminated compared to 337 the prior year; 827 new cases were docketed compared to 454. There was an increase in grand jury activity and an increase in the collections of money owed the United States. The Kent State shootings were investigated. The Memorandum profiled Civil Rights case activity: 6 cases were filed under Title 8 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.38 As a result of close cooperation between the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, 5 of these cases had been resolved by consent decrees. “This represented more progress in this area than in the preceeding 4 fiscal years combined.” 

A Grand Jury investigation revealed that a duplicate Department of Defense acceptance stamp had been counterfeited and used to certify defective carbine ammunition clips as being acceptable for military use. As a result of this investigation, the former president of the Shelby Corporation, which has since been reorganized, plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to presenting a false claim to the United States. This investigation was conducted by Jones. An injunction was obtained by the United States Attorney ordering striking Akron postal employees to return to work. Faced with this court order and the determination of the United States Attorney that it would be enforced, the Akron postal employees did return in obedience to the injunction and the Cleveland postal employees also returned. Post Office officials have observed that this return in the in the Northern District of Ohio signaled the end of the nationwide strike. Jones assisted in the legal steps. 

Twenty-six persons were enrolled in the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Program, a substantial increase over preceding years. The program was supervised by Krupansky and Jones. Jones, as a member of the Drug Abuse Committee of the Cleveland Area Coordinating Counsel, participated in the program which led to the creation of a narcotic and dangerous drug treatment center at University Circle. And Jones assisted with the Law Student Intern Program. National attention was received by the investigations into the conspiracy to slay labor leader Joseph A. Yablonski. A nationwide F.B.I. investigation produced sufficient evidence to charge three Cleveland area residents with conspiracy to slay Yablonski. Through Grand Jury proceedings, a series of three conspiracy indictments were returned charging five individuals. The investigation was conducted by Krupansky, assisted by Jones, according to the Memorandum.

Federal judicial service

Krupansky was nominated by President Richard Nixon on October 7, 1970, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, to a new seat created by 84 Stat. 294. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 13, 1970, and received his commission on October 16, 1970. Krupansky served in that capacity until March 19, 1982, due to elevation to the Sixth Circuit.

Krupansky was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on January 28, 1982, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated by Judge Paul Charles Weick. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 4, 1982, and received his commission on March 10, 1982. He assumed senior status on July 1, 1991. Krupansky served in that capacity until his death on November 8, 2004, in Cleveland.

Sources

• Robert B. Krupansky at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.