Born in New York City, New York on July 11, 1923,[1] the son of United States Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, Patterson Jr. was in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1956, during which time he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1947 and a Bachelor of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1950.
He was in private practice in New York City again from 1956 (joining the firm founded by his father, Patterson, Belknap & Webb - later Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler)[2] to 1988, working as a special hearing officer for conscientious objectors in the United States Department of Justice from 1961 to 1968, and as minority counsel to a Select Committee Pursuant to United States House of Representatives Resolution Number 1 in 1967.
On August 10, 1988, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary reported on Patterson's nomination on a voice vote without dissent.
[4] The next day, however, Republican Senator Gordon Humphrey placed a hold on Patterson's nomination and subsequently queried the nominee about his positions on abortion.
[4] Ultimately, Patterson was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 5, 1988, and received his commission the following day.