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James Earl Major

American judge

J. Earl Major
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office March 23, 1956 – January 4, 1972
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office 1948–1954
Preceded by	William Morris Sparks
Succeeded by	F. Ryan Duffy
Judge of the United 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 the United 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 the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21st 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 Donnellson, Illinois
Died	January 4, 1972(1972-01-04) (aged 84) Hillsboro, Illinois
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Hillsboro, Illinois
Education	Illinois College of Law, subsequently acquired by DePaul University

James Earl Major (January 5, 1887 – January 4, 1972) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician. He served as a United States representative from Illinois, a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Born in Donnellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city. He graduated from Brown's Business College in 1907 and from the Illinois College of Law (now DePaul University College of Law) at Chicago in 1909. He was admitted to the bar in 1910 and commenced the practice of law in Hillsboro, Illinois in 1912. He served as prosecuting attorney of Montgomery County, Illinois from 1912 to 1920.^[1][2]

Major was elected as a Democrat to the 68th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1923, to March 3, 1925. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the 69th Congress. He resumed the practice law in Hillsboro until he was elected to the 70th Congress, serving from March 4, 1927, to March 3, 1929. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1928 to the 71st Congress, but was elected to the 72nd and 73rd 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 the United States 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.^[1]

Major received a recess appointment from President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 12, 1933, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois vacated by Judge Louis FitzHenry. He was nominated to the same position by President Roosevelt on January 8, 1934. He was confirmed by the United 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 the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Louis 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 the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1949 to 1954. He assumed senior status on March 23, 1956.

Major died on January 4, 1972, in Hillsboro, where he had resided.^[2][1] He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.^[1]

• United States Congress. "James Earl Major (id: M000073)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• James Earl Major at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• James Earl Major Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois