Robert Palmer Anderson (March 27, 1906 – May 2, 1978) was a United States federal judge.
Born in Noank, Connecticut, Anderson received a B.A. from Yale College in 1927 and an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1929. He then worked until 1953 as a lawyer in private practice in New London, Connecticut, while holding a number of public offices. He was a commissioner to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1936. He was a public defender for New London County from 1936 to 1947. He was also a member of the Connecticut State Bar Examining Committee from 1936 to 1954. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1942, and became a captain in 1955. He served as State's Attorney for New London County from 1947 to 1953 and as a member of the Connecticut State Senate from 1947 to 1949. From 1953 to 1954, Anderson was a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court.
On April 6, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower named Anderson as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, to a seat vacated by Carroll C. Hincks. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 23, and received his commission on April 27. Anderson served on that court for ten years, including four years (1960-1964) as Chief Judge.
On August 4, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson promoted Anderson to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to a seat vacated by Charles Edward Clark. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 15, and received his commission the same day. Anderson served as an active judge on the appeals court for seven years. He assumed senior status on May 1, 1971, and died in 1978.