James Randall Durfee was a judge of the United States Court of Claims

United States Court of Claims

The Court of Claims was a federal court that heard claims against the United States government. It was established in 1855 as the Court of Claims, renamed in 1948 to the United States Court of Claims , and abolished in 1982....

 and Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

Education

Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Oshkosh, Wisconsin

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...

, Durfee enlisted in the 34th Infantry Division in April, 1917 and was discharged in June, 1919. Durfee attended Huron College and graduated from Marquette University Law School

Marquette University Law School

Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...

, with an LL.B., in 1926.

Professional Experience

Durfee was in private practice, in Antigo, Wisconsin

Antigo, Wisconsin

Antigo is a city in and the county seat of Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2000 census. Antigo is the center of a farming and lumbering district, and its manufactures consist principally of lumber, chairs, furniture, sashes, doors and blinds, hubs and...

, from 1926 to 1951, and was district attorney for Langlade County, Wisconsin

Langlade County, Wisconsin

Langlade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 20,740. Its county seat is Antigo.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...

, from 1928 to 1931.
He served as Court commissioner for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, from 1934 to 1950.
Durfee was a Member of Wisconsin Public Service Commission

Wisconsin Public Service Commission

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is an independent regulatory agency responsible for regulating public utilities in the energy, telecommunications, gas and water companies located in U.S. state of Wisconsin...

, from 1951 to 1956, and he was its chairman from 1953 to 1956. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed Durfee Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, whereupon he served from 1956 until 1960.

Judicial career

Durfee was nominated by President Eisenhower to the Court of Claims, and was commissioned on April 22, 1960, took Senior status on January 6, 1972, and retired from active service on January 29, 1977. His service was terminated due to death on October 29, 1977.

Sources

• Federal Judicial Center entry on James Randall Durfee