J. Earl Major
Encyclopedia
James Earl Major was a U.S. Representative
from Illinois
and a United States federal judge
.
Born in Donellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city.
He was graduated from Brown's Business College in 1907 and from the Illinois College of Law at Chicago in 1909.
He was admitted to the bar
in 1910 and commenced the practice of law in Hillsboro, Illinois
until 1912. He served as prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County, Illinois from 1912 to 1920.
Major was elected as a Democrat
to the Sixty-eighth
Congress, serving from March 4, 1923 to March 3, 1925. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the Sixty-ninth
Congress. He resumed the practice of the legal profession in Hillsboro, Illinois
, until he was elected to the Seventieth
Congress, from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1928 to the Seventy-first
Congress, but was elected to the Seventy-second
Congress, and to the Seventy-third
Congress and served from March 4, 1931, until his resignation October 6, 1933, having been appointed to the bench. During his final term, he was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1933 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Harold Louderback
, judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
.
On June 12, 1933, Major received a recess appointment
from President Franklin D. Roosevelt
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
vacated by Louis FitzHenry
. Formally nominated on January 8, 1934, Major was confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 23, 1934, and received his commission on January 26, 1934.
On March 9, 1937, Roosevelt nominated Major for elevation to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
also vacated by Louis FitzHenry
. Major was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1937, and received his commission on March 23, 1937. He served as chief judge from 1948 to 1954, assuming senior status
on March 23, 1956. He thereafter served part time as senior judge on the Court of Appeals and various United States district courts.
He resided in Hillsboro, Illinois
, until his death there on January 4, 1972. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Donellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city.
He was graduated from Brown's Business College in 1907 and from the Illinois College of Law at Chicago in 1909.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1910 and commenced the practice of law in Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,359 at the 2000 census, and 6,106 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Montgomery County.-History:...
until 1912. He served as prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County, Illinois from 1912 to 1920.
Major was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Sixty-eighth
68th United States Congress
The Sixty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1923 to March 4, 1925, during the last months of...
Congress, serving from March 4, 1923 to March 3, 1925. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the Sixty-ninth
69th United States Congress
The Sixty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1925 to March 4, 1927, during the third and fourth...
Congress. He resumed the practice of the legal profession in Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,359 at the 2000 census, and 6,106 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Montgomery County.-History:...
, until he was elected to the Seventieth
70th United States Congress
The Seventieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929, during the last two years of...
Congress, from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1928 to the Seventy-first
71st United States Congress
The Seventy-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1931, during the first two years...
Congress, but was elected to the Seventy-second
72nd United States Congress
The Seventy-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1931 to March 4, 1933, during the last two years...
Congress, and to the Seventy-third
73rd United States Congress
The Seventy-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935, during the first two years...
Congress and served from March 4, 1931, until his resignation October 6, 1933, having been appointed to the bench. During his final term, he was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1933 to conduct the impeachment proceedings against Harold Louderback
Harold Louderback
Harold Louderback was a United States District Court judge from California. He was the eleventh federal official to be served with Articles of Impeachment and was ultimately acquitted of these charges....
, judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
.
On June 12, 1933, Major received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a Federal district court covering approximately the southern half of the state of Illinois....
vacated by Louis FitzHenry
Louis FitzHenry
Louis FitzHenry was a United States federal judge.Born in Bloomington, Illinois, FitzHenry received an LL.B. from Illinois Wesleyan University Law School in 1897. He was in private practice in Bloomington, Illinois from 1897 to 1907. He was a City attorney of Bloomington, Illinois from 1907 to...
. Formally nominated on January 8, 1934, Major was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on January 23, 1934, and received his commission on January 26, 1934.
On March 9, 1937, Roosevelt nominated Major for elevation to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
also vacated by Louis FitzHenry
Louis FitzHenry
Louis FitzHenry was a United States federal judge.Born in Bloomington, Illinois, FitzHenry received an LL.B. from Illinois Wesleyan University Law School in 1897. He was in private practice in Bloomington, Illinois from 1897 to 1907. He was a City attorney of Bloomington, Illinois from 1907 to...
. Major was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1937, and received his commission on March 23, 1937. He served as chief judge from 1948 to 1954, assuming senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 23, 1956. He thereafter served part time as senior judge on the Court of Appeals and various United States district courts.
He resided in Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro, Illinois
Hillsboro is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,359 at the 2000 census, and 6,106 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Montgomery County.-History:...
, until his death there on January 4, 1972. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
External links
- James Earl Major Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois