James C. Hopkins (lawyer)

The Honorable
James C. Hopkins
The Honorable James C. Hopkins
United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin
	In office; July 9, 1870 – September 3, 1877
Appointed by	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Seat established by 16 Stat. 171
Succeeded by	Romanzo Bunn
Member of the New York Senate; from the 13th district
	In office; January 1, 1854 – January 1, 1856
Preceded by	Dan S. Wright
Succeeded by	Justin A. Smith
Personal details
Born	James Campbell Hopkins; April 27, 1819; Pawlet, Vermont
Died	September 3, 1877 (aged 58); Madison, Wisconsin
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery; Madison, Wisconsin
Relations	Nathan Smith Davis, Jr.
Education	read law

James Campbell Hopkins (April 27, 1819 – September 3, 1877) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was the first United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Life

Born in Pawlet, Vermont,^[1] Hopkins read law and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He was in private practice in Granville, New York, from 1845 to 1853, and was Postmaster of Granville from 1850 to 1855. He was a member of the New York State Senate (13th D.) in 1854 and 1855. He practiced law in Madison, Wisconsin, from 1856 to 1870.^[1]^[2] Hopkins died in Madison on September 3, 1877^[1] and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.^[3]

On July 9, 1870, Hopkins was nominated by President Ulysses Grant to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin created by 16 Stat. 171. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 9, 1870, and received his commission the same day. Hopkins served on the bench until his death.^[2]

Concurrent with his judicial service, Hopkins was a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison from 1876 to 1877.^[2]

Hopkins's daughter Jessie married Nathan Smith Davis, Jr., a physician and later dean of Northwestern University's Medical School.^{[citation needed]}

^ ^a ^b ^c "Death of Hon. James C. Hopkins". Wisconsin State Journal. September 3, 1877. p. 1. Retrieved May 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c James Campbell Hopkins at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
^ "Judge Hopkins' Funeral". Wisconsin State Journal. September 5, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved May 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

New York State Senate
Preceded by Dan S. Wright	New York State Senate 13th District 1854–1855	Succeeded by Justin A. Smith
Legal offices
Preceded by Seat established by 16 Stat. 171	Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin 1870–1877	Succeeded by Romanzo Bunn