John D. Voelker
| John D. Voelker | |
|---|---|
John D. Voelker (right) in the trailer for Anatomy of a Murder, with filmmaker Otto Preminger (left)
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| Born |
John Donaldson Voelker June 29, 1903 Ishpeming, Michigan, United States |
| Died | March 18, 1991 (aged 87) Ishpeming, Michigan, United States |
| Other names | Robert Traver |
| Occupation | Lawyer, judge, author |
| Notable work |
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| Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court | |
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In office 1956 – 1960 |
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| Nominated by | G. Mennen Williams |
| Preceded by | Emerson R. Boyles |
| Succeeded by | Theodore Souris |
| Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney | |
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In office 1935 – 1950 |
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| Succeeded by | Edward Thomas |
John D. Voelker (June 29, 1903 – March 18, 1991), better known by his pen name Robert Traver, was a noted lawyer, author and fly fisherman from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He grew up in his hometown of Ishpeming and later attended the University of Michigan Law School. His early professional career was as an attorney and county prosecutor in Marquette County. Voelker was also appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by Governor G. Mennen Williams in 1957. He is best known as the author of the novel, Anatomy of a Murder, published in 1958. The best-selling novel was turned into an Academy Award-nominated film of the same name—directed by Otto Preminger and starring James Stewart—that was released July 1, 1959. Duke Ellington wrote the music for the movie. It is critically acclaimed as one of the best trial movies of all time.
Anatomy of a Murder is based on a real murder (and subsequent trial) that occurred in Big Bay in the early morning of July 31, 1952. Coleman A. Peterson, a lieutenant in the Army, was charged with murdering Maurice Chenoweth. The alleged motive was revenge for the rape of Peterson's wife by Chenoweth. Voelker successfully defended Peterson, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Other books by Voelker were based on other legal cases in the Upper Peninsula or his love of fly fishing for brook trout. He authored over 100 opinions during his short tenure on the Michigan Supreme Court, the most famous of which was in a case called People v. HIldabridle involving a nudist colony near Battle Creek.
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