Richmond Bowling Keech


Richmond Bowling Keech was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Education and career

Born in Washington, D.C., Keech received a Bachelor of Laws from Georgetown Law in 1922 and a Master of Laws from the same institution in 1923. He served in the United States Navy Transport Service during World War I. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1922 to 1925. He was an assistant corporation counsel for Washington, D.C. from 1925 to 1930. He was a Professor of Law for National University in 1930. He was people's counsel of the District of Columbia from 1930 to 1934. He was a law member and Vice Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission in Washington, D.C. from 1934 to 1940. He was corporation counsel for Washington, D.C. from 1940 to 1945. He was an administrative assistant to President Harry S. Truman from 1945 to 1946.

Federal judicial service

Keech received a recess appointment from President Harry S. Truman on October 14, 1946, to an Associate Justice seat on the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia vacated by Judge Jesse Corcoran Adkins. He was nominated to the same position by President Truman on January 8, 1947. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1947, and received his commission on January 24, 1947. He served as Chief Judge in 1966. He assumed senior status on November 1, 1966. His service terminated on April 13, 1986, due to his death.