Second Circuit / Appointed 1971 / Served to 2007
James Lowell Oakes
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Appointed by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971 and confirmed by voice vote, James Lowell Oakes was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1947. He previously served on the District of Vermont.Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, May 20, 1971
- Appointed by
- Richard M. Nixon, 1971
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Harvard 1945 · Harvard Law School 1947
- Succeeded
- Sterry Robinson Waterman
- Succeeded by
- Fred I. Parker
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | District of Vermont · succeeded Ernest William Gibson Jr. | Nixon (R) | voice |
| 1971 | Second Circuit · succeeded Sterry Robinson Waterman | Nixon (R) | 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
| Harvard University | A.B. | 1945 |
| Harvard Law School | LL.B. | 1947 |
Sources
36 years on the Second Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).