James Stuart Holden

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.

James Stuart Holden
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
In office January 29, 1984 – November 18, 1996
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
In office 1972–1983
Preceded by	Bernard Joseph Leddy
Succeeded by	Albert Wheeler Coffrin
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
In office November 30, 1971 – January 29, 1984
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	James L. Oakes
Succeeded by	Franklin S. Billings Jr.
Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office 1963–1972
Preceded by	Benjamin N. Hulburd
Succeeded by	Percival L. Shangraw
Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
In office 1956–1963
Preceded by	Paul A. Chase
Succeeded by	Harold C. Sylvester
Judge of the Vermont Superior Court
In office 1949–1956
Preceded by	Henry F. Black
Succeeded by	F. Ray Keyser Sr.
Chairman of the Vermont Public Service Commission
In office 1948–1949
Preceded by	Paul A. Chase
Succeeded by	N. Henry Press
State's Attorney of Bennington County, Vermont
In office 1947–1948
Preceded by	William T. Jerome Jr.
Succeeded by	Waldo C. Holden
Personal details
Born	(1914-01-29)January 29, 1914 Bennington, Vermont
Died	November 18, 1996(1996-11-18) (aged 82) Longwood, Florida
Resting place	Park Lawn Cemetery, Bennington, Vermont
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	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

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[1]

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.[1] He was buried at Park Lawn Cemetery in Bennington.[3]

References

1. James Stuart Holden at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "Judge Holden's Elevation to High Bench Points Up Rapid Turnover on Vt. Court". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. Morning Press Bureau. August 4, 1956. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
3. James Stuart Holden at Find a Grave

External links

• James Stuart Holden at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• James Stuart Holden at Find a Grave

Legal offices
Preceded by James L. Oakes	Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont 1971–1984	Succeeded by Franklin S. Billings Jr.
Preceded by Bernard Joseph Leddy	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont 1972–1983	Succeeded by Albert Wheeler Coffrin