Edward D. Robertson Jr. was born in Durham, N.C., on May 1, 1952.  he received his education in the public schools of Charleston, S.C.; North Kansas City, Mo.; and Hickman Mills, Mo., graduating from Ruskin High School in 1970.

     He is a cum laude graduate of Westminster College, from which he received a bachelor of arts degree in 1974.  After attending the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, Robertson entered the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in the fall of 1975, receiving his juris doctorate with distinction in 1977. 

     While in law school, Robertson served as an editor of the law review and was elected to the Order of the Bench and Robe, a scholastic honorary.

     Robertson earned a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia (1990), was a Danforth Fellow at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government (1983), and was awarded a Doctor of Laws degree by Westminster College (1989).  He currently serves as adjunct professor of constitutional law at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.

    Robertson served as an assistant attorney general of Missouri from 1978-79; practiced law in Kansas City from 1979-81, during which time he also served as the municipal judge of Belton, Mo.; returned to government service as the deputy attorney general of Missouri from 1981085; and, prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, served as Gov.  John Ashcroft's chief of staff.

    Governor Ashcroft appointed Robertson to the Missouri Supreme Court on June 26, 1985, selecting him from three names submitted to him by the Missouri Non-Partisan Appellate Judicial Commission.

    Robertson has served as a member of the Freedom's Foundation National Awards Jury and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theata, Zeta Tau Delta and Phi Alpha Delta.  He was selected an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1984 and holds the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and the Decade Award of the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law.

    In 1992, the Robert C. Goshorn Foundation named Robertson Statesman of the Year, an  award for Missouri's outstanding public servant.  The Missouri Bar awarded Robertson its President's Award for outstanding contributions to the bar in 1992.  Robertson is the first sitting member of the judiciary to receive the award in the bar's history.

    Robertson is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, Mo.,  where he chairs the Administrative Board, is a member of the Board of Trustees and teaches an adult Sunday School class.  Robertson is an ordained deacon of the United Methodist Church.  He is a member of the Board of Curators of Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo.

    Robertson and his wife, Renee, are the parents of three children:  Edward III (Kip), 14, Matthew, 12, and Meredith, 6.  They reside in Jefferson City, Mo.

    Robertson assumed office on June 28, 1985, and was retained in office by the voters of Missouri in the 1986 general election for a term of office expiring December 31, 1998.  He served as chief justice July 1991 through June 1993.