James L. Oakes
Encyclopedia
James Lowell Oakes was a senior circuit judge
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
.
Born in Springfield, Illinois
, Oakes attended Harvard College
and Harvard Law School
, from which he graduated cum laude and served as editor of the law review. After graduating, he served two terms as law clerk
for Second Circuit Judge Harrie B. Chase
. Oakes then went into private practice as a lawyer in Brattleboro, Vermont
. He served as a member of the Vermont State Senate from 1961 to 1965, and as Attorney General
of Vermont from 1967 to 1969.
In 1970, President
Richard Nixon
nominated Oakes to fill the seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
vacated by the death of Ernest W. Gibson, Jr.
. A year later, in 1971, Nixon elevated Oakes to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He was quickly confirmed, and served as a judge for 35 years, including as Chief Judge
of the Second Circuit from 1988 to 1992. Oakes assumed senior status
in 1992.
Judge Oakes served as a member of the Vermont Law School
Board of Trustees from 1976 until 1994. His many incisive opinions have helped to shape Vermont's singular role in the development of environmental law, including his ruling in Conservation Society of Southern Vermont v. Volpe (the Route 7 Case) and Southview Associates v. Bongartz (the Deeryard Case).
He was married three times. His third wife, Mara A. Williams, was present at and reported the death, which followed a short illness.
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...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
.
Born in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, Oakes attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, from which he graduated cum laude and served as editor of the law review. After graduating, he served two terms as law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Second Circuit Judge Harrie B. Chase
Harrie B. Chase
Harrie Brigham Chase was a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.A native and resident of Vermont, Chase attended Dartmouth College, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He also attended Boston University School of Law. He was a state's attorney of...
. Oakes then went into private practice as a lawyer in Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
. He served as a member of the Vermont State Senate from 1961 to 1965, and as Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Vermont from 1967 to 1969.
In 1970, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
nominated Oakes to fill the seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
vacated by the death of Ernest W. Gibson, Jr.
Ernest W. Gibson, Jr.
Ernest William Gibson, Jr. was the 67th Governor of Vermont, a United States Senator and a U.S. federal judge. He was the son of Vermont Senator Ernest W...
. A year later, in 1971, Nixon elevated Oakes to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. He was quickly confirmed, and served as a judge for 35 years, including as Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Second Circuit from 1988 to 1992. Oakes assumed 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...
in 1992.
Judge Oakes served as a member of the Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School is a private, American Bar Association accredited law school located in South Royalton, Vermont . The Law School has one of the United States' leading programs in environmental law, and the Law School is currently ranked #1 in Environmental Law by U.S...
Board of Trustees from 1976 until 1994. His many incisive opinions have helped to shape Vermont's singular role in the development of environmental law, including his ruling in Conservation Society of Southern Vermont v. Volpe (the Route 7 Case) and Southview Associates v. Bongartz (the Deeryard Case).
He was married three times. His third wife, Mara A. Williams, was present at and reported the death, which followed a short illness.