James B. Parsons
James Benton Parsons (1911-1993) was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Parsons was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on August 10, 1961, to a seat vacated by Philip Leo Sullivan; he was confirmed by the Senate on August 30, 1961, and received his commission that same day. From 1975-1981, he served as the chief judge. He assumed senior status on August 30, 1981. He served the Northern District of Illinois until his death on June 19, 1993.[1] Parsons was succeeded in this position by Paul Plunkett.
Parsons became the first African American to serve a federal district court when he was appointed in 1961.[2]
Early life and education
- Millikin University, B.A., 1934
- University of Chicago, M.A., 1946
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 1949[1]
Professional career
- U.S. Naval Reserve, 1942-1945
- Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1949-1951
- Assistant corporation counsel, Chicago, Illinois, 1949-1951
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1951-1960
- Judge, Superior Court of Cook County, Illinois, 1960-1961[1]
Judicial nominations and appointments
Northern District of Illinois
Parsons was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on August 10, 1961, to a seat vacated by Philip Leo Sullivan; he was confirmed by the Senate on August 30, 1961, and received his commission that same day. From 1975-1981, he served as the chief judge. He assumed senior status on August 30, 1981. He served the Northern District of Illinois until his death on June 19, 1993.[1] Parsons was succeeded in this position by Paul Plunkett.
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Judge Parson's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ Milestones of Judicial Service from the Federal Judicial Center.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Philip Leo Sullivan |
Northern District of Illinois 1961–1981 Seat #5 |
Succeeded by: Paul Plunkett
|
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 |
Ainsworth • Augelli • Austin • Battisti • Becker • Beeks • Bell • Blumenfeld • Bohanon • Brown • Browning • Bryan Sr. • Clarie • Cox • Craven • Croake • Davis • Dillin • Dooling • Doyle • Dumbauld • Duniway • Dyer • Freedman • Ganey • Garza • Gibson • Gray • Hill • Kaufman • Kiley • Larkins • Larson • Lord • Luongo • MacBride • Machrowicz • Martin • McCree • McRae • Michie • Morgan • Northrop • Parsons • Peck II • Pence • Plummer • Putnam • Ridge • Sheridan • Smith • Stephens, Jr. • Swygert • West • Will • Wilson • Young • Zirpoli | ||
| 1962 |
Allgood • Barrow • Beamer • Bell • Body • Bonsal • Brewster • Brown • Butzner • Carr • Cohen • Coolahan • Cooper • Crary • Curtis • Daugherty • Oscar Davis • Elliott • Ellis • Eschbach • Feinberg • Foley • Fox • Gewin • Goldberg • Gray • Green • Hanson • Hays • Hughes • Jones • McLean • McManus • Meredith • Neese • Noel • Oliver • Preyer • Regan • Rosenberg • Rosling • Roth • Seth • Shaw • Smith • Spears • Templar • Tyler • Weigel • White • Winter • Wright • Wyatt | ||
| 1963 |
Almond • Cannella • Craig • Decker • Edwards • Fulton • Marovitz • McGowan • Mehaffy • Moynahan • Nealon • Payne • Phillips • Tenney • Thompson • Thornberry | ||
