James Dunlop (judge)
Encyclopedia
James Dunlop was a United States federal judge
.
Dunlop was born in Georgetown, which was then part of Maryland
, but was ceded to the District of Columbia by the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
. He received an A.B. from Princeton University
in 1811, and read law to enter the Bar. He became secretary for the municipal corporation
of Georgetown until 1838, when he became a judge of the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia.
On October 3, 1845, Dunlop received a recess appointment
from President James K. Polk
to a seat on the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
vacated by Buckner Thruston
. Dunlop was formally nominated on December 23, 1845, and was confirmed by the United States Senate
, and received his commission, on February 3, 1846. On November 27, 1855, Dunlop received a recess appointment from President Franklin Pierce
elevating him to Chief Judge of the Circuit, the seat having been vacated by William Cranch
. At the time, the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit was separately appointed by the President. Dunlop was formally nominated to the seat on December 3, 1855, and was confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission, on December 7, 1855.
On March 3, 1863, Congress abolished the D.C. Circuit, thus terminating Dunlop's service as a federal judge. He entered private practice in Georgetown until he died there in 1872.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Dunlop was born in Georgetown, which was then part of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, but was ceded to the District of Columbia by the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801
The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801 is an Organic Act enacted by the United States Congress, which incorporated the District of Columbia and divided the territory into two counties: Washington County to the north and east of the Potomac River and Alexandria County...
. He received an A.B. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1811, and read law to enter the Bar. He became secretary for the municipal corporation
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
of Georgetown until 1838, when he became a judge of the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia.
On October 3, 1845, Dunlop received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
to a seat on the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
The United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia is a former United States federal court, which existed from 1801 to 1863.-History:...
vacated by Buckner Thruston
Buckner Thruston
Buckner Thruston was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Senator from Kentucky, and later a long-serving a United States federal judge.-Early life, education, and career:...
. Dunlop was formally nominated on December 23, 1845, and was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and received his commission, on February 3, 1846. On November 27, 1855, Dunlop received a recess appointment from President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
elevating him to Chief Judge of the Circuit, the seat having been vacated by William Cranch
William Cranch
William Cranch was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States.-Early life:Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams...
. At the time, the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit was separately appointed by the President. Dunlop was formally nominated to the seat on December 3, 1855, and was confirmed by the Senate, and received his commission, on December 7, 1855.
On March 3, 1863, Congress abolished the D.C. Circuit, thus terminating Dunlop's service as a federal judge. He entered private practice in Georgetown until he died there in 1872.