---
title: "Robert Lowell Miller Jr. | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-lowell-miller-jr"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Robert Lowell Miller Jr.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana · Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- State: Indiana
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, District Court, N.D. Indiana, 1985-present
- Law clerk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1975-present
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review: Appointed July 8, 2020, by Chief Justice John Roberts for a seven-year term Retired from this role September 15, 2023, and assumed inactive senior status
- Federal judiciary: Nominated by President Ronald Reagan on October 23, 1985, to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana; confirmed by the Senate December 16, 1985 held the role of Chief Judge (2003–2010) Assumed senior status January 11, 2016
- Early career: Law clerk to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (1975) Judge, St. Joseph County Superior Court (1975–1985), appointed by Governor Otis R. Bowen; held the role of Chief Judge 1981–1983

### Education

- Indiana University School of Law -- Indianapolis (now McKinney School of Law) — J.D. (1975)
- Northwestern University — B.A. (1972)

### Additional information

- In August 2023, the judges of the Northern District of Indiana named the third-floor courtroom in the Robert A. Grant Federal Courthouse in South Bend the Robert Lowell Miller Jr.
- A dedication ceremony was held August 4, 2023, marking his retirement after 46 years on the federal bench
- He also chaired the Seventh Circuit Pattern Civil Jury Instruction Committee (2002–2022)
- Judge Miller served on multiple judicial committees, including the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (2003–2010) and the Judicial Conference of the United States.
- Member, U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, 2003-2010
- Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 1998-2000
- Born November 21, 1950, in South Bend, Indiana.
- Date of birth: 1950-01-01
- American judge best known for his long service on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and his later role on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review
- Courtroom in his honor.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### civil remote testimony

Scope: courtwide

In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.

Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.

[Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### criminal recording and broadcasting

Scope: courtwide

Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.

Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.

[Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385161)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385161)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385161)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2257/robert-lowell-miller-jr/)
- [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure)
- [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2257/robert-lowell-miller-jr/)
- [Judge Robert Lowell Miller Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385161)
- [Wikidata: Robert Lowell Miller Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7347020)
- [Press Release: Retirement of Judge Miller and Dedication of Courtroom](https://www.innd.uscourts.gov/news/press-release-retirement-judge-miller-and-dedication-courtroom)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2257/robert-lowell-miller-jr/)
- [Judge Robert Lowell Miller Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1385161)
- [Wikidata: Robert Lowell Miller Jr.](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7347020)

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## Federal civil docket activity

Dataset updated through 2026-06-30.

| Period | Assigned cases | Terminated cases | Median disposition (months) | Median sample |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| 1y | 0 | 0 | Not available | 0 |
| 2y | 0 | 0 | Not available | 0 |
| 5y | 282 | 282 | 2.6 | 282 |
| 10y | 1410 | 1410 | 8.4 | 1410 |

Source: https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/
