James A. Wynn, Jr.

James Wynn
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office August 10, 2010
Nominated by	Barack Obama
Preceded by	James Phillips
Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals
In office 1999–2010
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Cressie Thigpen
In office 1990–1998
Preceded by	Allyson Duncan
Succeeded by	Himself
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina
In office September 28, 1998 – November 3, 1998
Preceded by	John Webb
Succeeded by	George Wainwright
Personal details
Born	March 17, 1954 (1954-03-17) Robersonville, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Marquette University University of Virginia

James Andrew Wynn, Jr. (born March 17, 1954) is an American jurist, currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and formerly on both the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Early life and education

Wynn was born in Robersonville, North Carolina in the farm community of Gold Point. His father worked as a farmer and carpenter and his mother operated a sewing machine in a factory and later retired as a Nurse's Aide. His family operated a small farm on which Wynn worked during his early years. Wynn also worked during his high school years at an IGA Grocery Store in the nearby town of Williamston. Wynn holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., Journalism, 1975); Marquette University Law School (J.D., 1979) and University of Virginia School of Law (L.L.M., Judicial Process, 1995).

Early career

Wynn served in the active and reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) of the United States Navy until retiring in August 2009.

After completing his active duty service in the Navy, Wynn practiced law in Wilson and Greenville, North Carolina.

Judicial career

In 1990, Wynn was elected in a statewide contest to fill an unexpired term of two years on the North Carolina Court of Appeals; he was reelected to the Court of Appeals in 1992; 2000; and 2008. In 1998, he served briefly on the Supreme Court of North Carolina by appointment but returned to the Court of Appeals after an unsuccessful election.

Wynn chaired the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association in 2007. He was one fo the Drafters of the 2007 ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct. He also chaired the Appellate Judges Conference and chaired the 2009 ABA Diversity Summit.

Wynn has served on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (www.nccusl.org) since 1994 (Vice President; Executive Committee; Scope and Program Committee; Division Chair).

Wynn formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Justice at Stake Campaign in Washington, DC. He is a member of the American Law Institute. He chaired the North Carolina Bar Association's Brown v. Board of Education 50th anniversary celebration. He is a past trustee of the North Carolina State Bar IOLTA committee and a past trustee of Pitt Community College.

He was the Marquette University Law School E. Harold Hallows Distinguished Lecturer in 2002, and in 2004, he was awarded the Marquette University "All University Alumni Merit Award."

Nominations to the Fourth Circuit

Nomination under Clinton

On August 5, 1999, President Bill Clinton nominated Judge Wynn to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to fill a vacancy created by the decision by Judge James Dickson Phillips, Jr. to take senior status.

Wynn's nomination never received a hearing from the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Renomination under Obama

President Barack Obama nominated Wynn and North Carolina Superior Court Judge Albert Diaz for seats on the Fourth Circuit on Nov. 4, 2009. Obama's renomination of Wynn and nomination of Diaz were jointly endorsed by North Carolina senators Kay Hagan, a Democrat, and Richard Burr, a Republican. His nomination was confirmed by the full Senate on August 5, 2010 by unanimous consent.

Publications

• Judging the Judges, Marquette University Law Review, 86 Marq.L.Rev. 753, Spring 2003
• Military Courts and the All Writs Act: Who Supervises the Military Justice System?, Judges Journal, American Bar Association, Vol. 45, No. 3.
• Selection of State Judges, 33 U.Tol. L. Rev. 287, Winter 2002
• Ground to Stand on: Charles Hamilton Houston’s Legal Foundation for Dr. King, 9 N.C. Bar. J. (2004).
• State v. Mann, 13 N.C. 263 (N.C. 1830): Judicial Choice or Judicial Duty? (WYNN dissentiente), --- NC Law Review --, Fall 2008.

See also

• Bill Clinton judicial appointment controversies

External links

• James A. Wynn, Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• Official biography
• News & Observer profile
• Charlotte Observer endorses Wynn for re-election

Legal offices
Preceded by Allyson Duncan	Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals 1990–1998	Succeeded by Himself
Preceded by John Webb	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina 1998	Succeeded by George Wainwright
Preceded by Himself	Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals 1999–2010	Succeeded by Cressie Thigpen
Preceded by James Phillips	Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 2010–present	Incumbent