Colleagues mourn loss of Iowa judge who knew justice includes ‘mercy, compassion’

The Iowa legal community this week is mourning the loss of retired U.S. District Judge Robert William Pratt, an “incredibly kind, compassionate, special person — one we may never see again in the judicial system.”

Pratt, who served on the bench in the federal southern district for more than 26 years and retired in 2023, died unexpectedly Wednesday in Des Moines.

Pratt graduated from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha in 1972, after earning his undergraduate degree from Loras College in Dubuque in 1969, where he met his wife, Rose Mary. They married in 1971 and have three children and nine grandchildren.

Before being appointed to the bench in 1997, Pratt worked for Iowa Legal Aid in Polk County and was in private practice, along with taking court appointed clients in criminal cases, according to the Iowa State Bar Association.

Colleagues and friends shared memories of Pratt this week with The Gazette.

U.S. District Chief Judge Stephanie Rose, who replaced Pratt on the bench in 2012, said it was a “tremendous loss” to the judicial system and he was a mentor to her. She said he was “incredibly kind, loving, compassionate and thoughtful.”

“We are still in a bit of shock (over his death),” Rose said. “He was a wonderful guy. He was always willing to take a hard look at things that needed to looked at — as in the Gull decision. It was the right thing to do.”

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Many of his colleagues mentioned the landmark U.S. Supreme Court’s Gull sentencing case in 2007, where the high court reversed an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which overturned Pratt’s district ruling. Gall, who was a college student convicted of selling drugs, faced 30 to 37 months in federal prison under the sentencing guidelines, but Pratt sentenced Gall to just three years of probation.

Pratt ruled probation would address the seriousness of the offense and based his ruling on previous case law, which found the sentencing guidelines are advisory, not mandatory, according to the ruling.

The circuit court reversed Pratt’s sentencing, ruling the sentence was outside the guideline range and not supported by extraordinary circumstances, according to the ruling.

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the circuit court, upholding Pratt’s ruling, stating “that the sentence imposed by the experienced district judge in this case was reasonable.”

"Judge Pratt understood that true justice included, when appropriate, mercy and compassion,” retired U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett said.

The Gall ruling “dramatically” expanded the sentencing discretion for federal judges, Bennett, director Emeritus for the Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation at Drake University Law School, added.

Retired Sen. Tom Harkin, his wife, Ruth, along with the staff of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement at Drake University, said in a statement they were “deeply saddened” by Pratt’s death.

“Judge Pratt had what is needed in any person who sits in judgment on other people: a keen mind tempered by empathy; an unwavering commitment to the rule of law; life experiences that revealed the frailty of human nature; an understanding of the consequences of societal injustice and discrimination; and a profound faith in the redemptive power of individuals to change their lives for the better,” Harkin said in the statement.

Harkin said Pratt was “instrumental” in the establishment and success of The Harkin Institute and the The Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, where Pratt officiated numerous naturalization ceremonies for new citizens, “one of his great joys.”

“Ruth and I send our condolences to his wife, our dear friend Rose Mary, and to all the family, and we thank them for Bob’s life of service to our state and nation,” Harkin said.

Harkin submitted Pratt’s name to President Bill Clinton who nominated him for the bench and he was affirmed by the U.S. Senate in 1997. Pratt served as chief judge from 2006 to 2011 and took senior status July 1, 2012.

Early years before bench

Alfredo Parrish, a Des Moines lawyer, said he worked with Pratt — and Harkin, among others — in his first job at Legal Aid Society, now Iowa Legal Aid.

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“His (Pratt’s) office was on my left and Tom Harkin was on my right,” Parrish said. “We quickly became fast friends. When Tom left to run for Congress, he gave Bob half his files and me the other half.”

He was always a “formidable advocate” for his clients who fell below the poverty line, Parrish said.

Parrish recalled after they both left legal aid, Pratt stopped by his office with a copy of President Richard Nixon’s resignation letter.

“It was the day after Nixon resigned,” Parrish said. “There was no internet, but somehow, he managed to obtain a copy.”

Parrish said Pratt had a “legendary” memory and could recite rulings and dates from state and federal courts. He also memorized related rulings from other jurisdictions.

Parrish said the last time he saw Pratt was about three weeks ago for lunch. Pratt was working with the Iowa State Bar Association to organize a trip to Atlanta to travel the Civil Rights Trail. He wanted Iowa lawyers, judges and court personnel to gain a “firsthand understanding of the civil rights movement.”

“He was a special person and the likes of him we may never see again in our judicial system,” Parrish noted.

U.S. District Senior Judge James Gritzner of the southern district said he was shocked over Pratt’s unexpected death.

He described Pratt as being “very bright, well read and having a big heart.” Pratt cared about the cases he saw in court and struggled some with criminal cases. He knew people who committed crimes were not all “bad or evil,” they just did something bad.

“I had just seen him last week at a luncheon and he seemed OK then,” Gritzner said. “I’m going to miss him. We would call each other all the time and shared internal complaints. He was always an interesting guy.”

Guy Cook, a Des Moines, lawyer, said he met Pratt 50 years ago, in the summer of 1974.

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“I tried the first civil jury trial he had as federal judge and had a number of cases, hearings, and trials before him over the years,” Cook said. “Judge Pratt was a life long student of the law and always exceptionally well prepared. Empathy was at the core of his sense of justice. Most importantly he had never-ending concern for the less fortunate.”

“Judge Pratt valued civility in the legal profession and demanded trial lawyers be respectful in court and in their filings, Cook said. “He also went out of his way to impress upon potential jurors the vital role juries serve in our democracy.”

Cook also mentioned Pratt enjoyed presiding over naturalization ceremonies.

“I watched him many times hold the special ceremonies at Principal Park in Des Moines welcoming new citizens,” Cook added.

Visitation services for Pratt will be Monday and his memorial service will be Tuesday in Des Moines, according to an obituary.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com