John Voelker (a.k.a. Robert Traver)

The Michigan Supreme Court celebrates its 200^th anniversary in 2005.  In tribute, we're spotlighting one of its most famous justices - one born during the month of June.

John D. Voelker entered the world on June 29, 1903.  This Ishpeming attorney and avid trout fisherman is best known as the author of Anatomy of a Murder.  (He wrote it under the pen name "Robert Traver.")  The book spawned a classic 1959 film adaptation.  Above, we see Voelker with James Stewart, who played the lead role.  Voelker based Stewart's character on himself.  He based the story on a 1952 Marquette County murder trial.  Voelker represented the defendant in the trial.

A publisher accepted Anatomy of a Murder in December 1956, the month that Voelker was appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court.  In 1958, director Otto Preminger bought the film rights and began shooting the movie in Marquette County.  Voelker frequently visited the set.  The film debuted in 1959, to critical acclaim.  The book and movie provided Voelker with financial security, and he retired from the Court later that year.  He returned to his beloved Upper Peninsula to continue writing.  He also actively pursued his two other favorite activities - fishing and cribbage playing.  John Voelker died near Ishpeming on March 18, 1991.

The Library of Michigan houses copies of Anatomy of a Murder and other books by John Voelker (Most were written under the name "Robert Traver."). Richard D. Shaul examined Voelker's life in "Backwards Barrister," an article in the November/December 2001 issue of Michigan History magazine.  Northern Michigan University Archives houses Voelker's personal papers, and their web site can be found at: http://www.nmu.edu/archives/  

The Archives of Michigan houses photos of John Voelker and historic documents of the Michigan Supreme Court.  Those curious about the Court's history can consult Scott A. Noto's A Brief History of the Michigan Supreme Court (Lansing:  Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, 2001).  The Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society web site (http://www.micourthistory.org) contains a wealth of information, including biographies of Voelker and other justices, lesson plans and links to other pertinent web sites.

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Archives of Michigan
Michigan Library and Historical Center
702 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48913
Phone: (517) 373-1408
E-mail: archives@michigan.gov

Updated 05/18/2006.

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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