J. Earl Major | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office March 23, 1956 – January 4, 1972 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office 1948–1954 | |
| Preceded by | William Morris Sparks |
| Succeeded by | F. Ryan Duffy |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office March 23, 1937 – March 23, 1956 | |
| Appointed by | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Louis FitzHenry |
| Succeeded by | John Simpson Hastings |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois | |
| In office June 12, 1933 – April 5, 1937 | |
| Appointed by | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Louis FitzHenry |
| Succeeded by | J. Leroy Adair |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's21st district | |
| In office March 4, 1931 – October 6, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | Frank M. Ramey |
| Succeeded by | Harry H. Mason |
| In office March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Loren E. Wheeler |
| Succeeded by | Frank M. Ramey |
| In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 | |
| Preceded by | Loren E. Wheeler |
| Succeeded by | Loren E. Wheeler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Earl Major (1887-01-05)January 5, 1887 |
| Died | January 4, 1972(1972-01-04) (aged 84) |
| Resting place | Oak Grove Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Hillsboro,Illinois |
| Education | Illinois College of Law, subsequently acquired byDePaul University |
James Earl Major (January 5, 1887 – January 4, 1972) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. He served as aUnited States representative fromIllinois, aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and a United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Born inDonnellson,Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city. He graduated fromBrown's Business College in 1907 and from theIllinois College of Law (nowDePaul University College of Law) atChicago in 1909. He wasadmitted to the bar in 1910 and commenced the practice of law inHillsboro, Illinois in 1912. He served as prosecuting attorney ofMontgomery County, Illinois from 1912 to 1920.[1][2]
Major was elected as aDemocrat to the68thUnited States Congress, serving from March 4, 1923, to March 3, 1925. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the69th Congress. He resumed the practice law in Hillsboro until he was elected to the70th Congress, serving from March 4, 1927, to March 3, 1929. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1928 to the71st Congress, but was elected to the72nd and73rd Congresses and served from March 4, 1931, until his resignation on October 6, 1933, having been appointed to the bench. During his final term, he was one of the managers appointed by theUnited States House of Representatives in 1933 to conduct the impeachment proceedings againstHarold Louderback, Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of California.[1]
Major received arecess appointment from PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt on June 12, 1933, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois vacated by JudgeLouis FitzHenry. He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on January 8, 1934. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on January 23, 1934, and received his commission on January 26, 1934. His service terminated on April 5, 1937, due to his elevation to the Seventh Circuit.[2]
Major was nominated by President Roosevelt on March 9, 1937, to a seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by JudgeLouis FitzHenry. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 17, 1937, and received his commission on March 23, 1937. He served as Chief Judge from 1948 to 1954 and served as a member of theJudicial Conference of the United States from 1949 to 1954. He assumedsenior status on March 23, 1956.[2]
Major died on January 4, 1972, in Hillsboro, where he had resided.[1][2] He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.[1]
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 21st congressional district 1923–1925 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 21st congressional district 1927–1929 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 21st congressional district 1931–1933 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois 1933–1937 | Succeeded by |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 1937–1956 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 1948–1954 | Succeeded by |
