Robert T. Kingsley (1912-1994), 0716 COBJ, Vol. 45 No. 7 Pg. 41
| Author | Albert Wolf, J. |
Albert Wolf, J.
Five of the Greatest Outstanding Lawyers in Colorado History
Robert "Bob" Kingsley was a "lawyer's trial lawyer." When judges or fellow attorneys were faced with difficult criminal or civil cases, they frequently called on Bob for help. And help he did, usually with success.
Early Years and Family
Born on December 12, 1912 (12/12/12) in Colorado Springs, Robert T. Kingsley was the descendant of Welsh coalminers. In his early years, his family moved to Chicago, where he attended the prestigious Chicago Latin School. He later received his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado and his law degree from the University of Denver School of Law, where he had been elected to membership in the Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society.
A Distinguished Legal Career
After admission to the Colorado bar in 1936, Bob Kingsley worked as a Denver prosecutor and later gained prominence as a trial lawyer. In 1969, he was appointed to the Denver District Court bench to replace Robert W. Steel. He later served that court as Chief Judge (1972 to 1976) and thereafter remained on the bench until 1984. His legal career spanned some 43 years—nearly 28 years in private practice and 15 years on the bench. He passed away in 1994.
Life as a Lawyer
In 1941, Kingsley was appointed deputy district attorney in the Denver DA's office. His legal career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army in 1943. Returning from military service, he joined the Denver law firm of Dickerson, Morrissey and Zarlengo, a preeminent criminal and civil trial firm. After a number of years with that firm, Kingsley partnered with Charles D. "Jim" Bromley to form Bromley & Kingsley.
It should be noted that Kingsley's partner, Jim Bromley, had been General Douglas MacArthur's adjutant during the World War II. Bromley's personally handwritten draft of his crafted rules and regulations of the U.S. occupation of Japan following the Japanese surrender was scrawled on a yellow legal pad. That historical document was last seen by this author in Bromley's bottom desk drawer under the last pair of shoes that he had replaced. Bromley was also well-known for his constant s moking (cigarettes, in those days), and his once having thrown his cigarette-lit flaming trash can out of his window onto Broadway below.
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