Fifth Circuit / Appointed 2011 / Active
James Earl Graves Jr.
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2011 and confirmed by voice vote, James Earl Graves Jr. is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He earned a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1980. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, February 14, 2011
- Appointed by
- Barack Obama, 2011
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Millsaps College 1975 · Syracuse College of Law 1980
- Succeeded
- Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fifth Circuit · succeeded Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale | Obama (D) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Millsaps College | B.A. | 1975 |
| Syracuse University College of Law | J.D. | 1980 |
| Syracuse University | M.P.A. | 1981 |
Sources
15 years on the Fifth Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).