James E. Barrett

James Emmett Barrett was a federal appellate judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. He passed away on November 7, 2011, at the age of 89.

Early life and education

Barrett graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law with a bachelor of laws degree in 1949. Barrett also served in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1942 to 1945.^[1]

Career

Barrett worked as a private practice attorney licensed in the state of Wyoming from 1949 to 1967. He also served as secretary-treasurer for the Niobara County Republican Central Committee from 1950 to 1966 and as a prosecuting attorney for Niobara County from 1951 to 1962. He was town attorney for the town of Lusk from 1954 to 1956. Barrett also served as attorney-counsel for the Niobrara Consolidated School District from 1952 to 1962 before being elected attorney general of Wyoming in 1966 and re-elected to a second term in 1970. He was nominated to the federal bench in 1971.^[1]

Federal judicial career

On the recommendation of the entire Wyoming Congressional Delegation, Barrett was nominated by President Richard Nixon on March 25, 1971 to a seat vacated by John Hickey as Hickey assumed senior status. Barrett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 21, 1971 on a Senate vote and received commission on April 23, 1971. Barrett later assumed senior status on April 8, 1987. He served in this capacity until he passed away on November 7, 2011 at the age of 89.^[1]

See also

• News: Judge Barrett dies at the age of 89, November 10, 2011

External links

• Oral history interview with Judge James Barrett provided by the Wyoming State Archives

• Military Service
• The Black 14
• Legal Career
• A Plane Crash and a UFO

Footnotes