James Hargrove Meredith

James Hargrove Meredith (August 25, 1914 – December 8, 1988) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Wedderburn, Oregon, Meredith received an A.B. from the University of Missouri in 1936 and an LL.B. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1937. He was in private practice in Portageville, Missouri from 1937 to 1938. He was in private practice in New Madrid, Missouri from 1939 to 1941. He was an Assistant prosecuting attorney of New Madrid County, Missouri from 1939 to 1941. He was a Special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA from 1942 to 1944. He was in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1944 to 1946. He was in private practice in Portageville, Missouri from 1946 to 1949. He was a Legal secretary to state governor, Missouri from 1949 to 1950. He was a Chief counsel, State Insurance Department, Missouri from 1950 to 1952. He was in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri from 1952 to 1962. He was in private practice in Washington, D.C. from 1961 to 1962.

Meredith was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Meredith was nominated by President John F. Kennedy on March 5, 1962, to a seat vacated by George H. Moore. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 16, 1962, and received his commission on March 17, 1962. He served as chief judge from 1971-1979. He assumed senior status on August 31, 1979. Meredith served in that capacity until his death, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sources

• James Hargrove Meredith at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.