Robert Traver

Robert Traver was the pen name of John D. Voelker, a notable American lawyer, judge, author, and fly fisherman from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Born in Ishpeming, Michigan, in 1903, Voelker spent his childhood fishing in the region's rivers and streams. After earning his law degree from the University of Michigan, he practiced law in Michigan, serving as Marquette County prosecutor and later as a Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. He began writing under the pseudonym Robert Traver to avoid the appearance of using public time for personal writing. His most famous work, 'Anatomy of a Murder,' published in 1958, was based on a real murder case he handled and was adapted into a successful film. Voelker also authored numerous books and essays on his other great passion, trout fishing, which are celebrated for their humor, insight, and deep respect for the sport and the natural world. He passed away in 1991.