Robinson was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Robinson was nominated by President George W. Bush on March 5, 2003, to a seat vacated by John S. Martin, Jr.. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 17, 2003, and received commission on September 22, 2003. In February, 2010, Steven Robinson sentenced disgraced former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to four years in federal prison on eight felonies, including lying to the White House and filing false taxes.