Yates, ROBERT (1738-1801), a noted colonial jurist in America. He was born in Schenectady, N. Y., was a thorough patriot during the Revolutionary War and wrote some stirring articles, under the name of "The Rough Hewer." Judge Yates was a member of the committee that drafted the first constitution of the State of New York, and in the same year, 1776, he became judge of the supreme court, of which he was made chief justice in 1790. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention, but opposed the Constitution and its ratification.