James Stuart Holden Explained

James Stuart Holden
Office:Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
Term Start:January 29, 1984
Term End:November 18, 1996
Office1:Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
Term Start1:1972
Term End1:1983
Predecessor1:Bernard Joseph Leddy
Successor1:Albert Wheeler Coffrin
Office2:Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
Term Start2:November 30, 1971
Term End2:January 29, 1984
Appointer2:Richard Nixon
Predecessor2:James L. Oakes
Successor2:Franklin S. Billings Jr.
Office3:Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Term Start3:1963
Term End3:1972
Predecessor3:Benjamin N. Hulburd
Successor3:Percival L. Shangraw
Office4:Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Term Start4:1956
Term End4:1963
Predecessor4:Paul A. Chase
Successor4:Harold C. Sylvester
Office5:Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
Term Start5:1949
Term End5:1956
Predecessor5:Henry F. Black
Successor5:F. Ray Keyser Sr.
Office6:Chairman of the Vermont Public Service Commission
Term Start6:1948
Term End6:1949
Predecessor6:Paul A. Chase
Successor6:N. Henry Press
Office7:State's Attorney of Bennington County, Vermont
Term Start7:1947
Term End7:1948
Predecessor7:William T. Jerome Jr.
Successor7:Waldo C. Holden
Birth Date:29 January 1914
Birth Place:Bennington, Vermont, US
Death Place:Longwood, Florida, US
Resting Place:Park Lawn Cemetery, Bennington, Vermont
Party:Republican
Spouse:Helen Elizabeth Vetal (m. 1941)
Children:3
Parents:Edward Henry Holden
Mary Anstiss (Thayer) Holden
Alma Mater:Dartmouth College (A.B.)
Albany Law School (LL.B.)
Profession:Attorney

James Stuart Holden (January 29, 1914 – November 18, 1996) was an American attorney and judge. He served as an associate justice and chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and later as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.

Early life

Born in Bennington, Vermont, Holden received an AB degree from Dartmouth College in 1935 and an LL.B. from Albany Law School in 1938. He was in private practice in Bennington from 1938 to 1941.

Military service

Holden was in the United States Army during World War II, serving from 1941 to 1945, achieving the rank of major while serving in the Pacific Theater as a member of the 43rd Infantry Division's 172nd Infantry Regiment. He remained in the military after the war, and was executive officer of the Vermont Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment until resigning in 1948. In 1949, he was appointed inspector general of the National Guard's 43rd Infantry Division and promoted to lieutenant colonel. He resigned again in 1950.

Continued career

He returned to private practice in Bennington from 1945 to 1948, and was also state's attorney of Bennington County from 1947 to 1948. He was Chairman of the Vermont Public Service Commission from 1948 to 1949.

State judge

Holden was a judge of the Vermont Superior Court from 1949 to 1956, and then succeeded Paul A. Chase as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.[1] He served until 1963, when he succeeded Benjamin N. Hulburd as chief justice. He was succeeded by Harold C. Sylvester, and served as chief justice until 1972, when he was succeeded by Percival L. Shangraw.

Federal judicial service

On November 11, 1971, Holden was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont vacated by Judge James L. Oakes. Holden was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 23, 1971, and received his commission on November 30, 1971. He served as Chief Judge from 1972 to 1983, assuming senior status on January 29, 1984. Holden served in that capacity until his death.

Death and burial

Holden died in Longwood, Florida on November 18, 1996.

Notes and References

  1. News: Morning Press Bureau . August 4, 1956 . Judge Holden's Elevation to High Bench Points Up Rapid Turnover on Vt. Court . Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT . subscription . . 2 . .