James Braxton Craven, Jr.

James Braxton Craven, Jr. (April 3, 1918 – May 3, 1977) was a United States federal judge.

Craven was born in Lenoir, North Carolina. He received an A.B. from Duke University in 1939 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1942. He was a Solicitor for Burke County, North Carolina in 1947. He was in private practice of law in Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina from 1948 to 1956. He was an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 1948 to 1952. Gov. Luther H. Hodges appointed him a Special judge of the North Carolina Superior Court, where he served from 1956 to 1961.

Craven was a federal judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Craven was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on July 24, 1961, to a new seat created by 75 Stat. 80; He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 9, 1961, and received his commission on August 10, 1961. He served as chief judge, 1962-1966. Craven's service was terminated on July 5, 1966, due to appointment to another judicial position, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Craven was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 13, 1966, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75; He was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 1966, and received his commission the same day. Craven served until his death on May 3, 1977. He died in Richmond, Virginia.

Sources

• James Braxton Craven, Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Holderness Moot Court