James Dunlop (judge)

James Dunlop
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
In office
November 27, 1855  March 3, 1863
Appointed by Franklin Pierce
Preceded by William Cranch
Succeeded by Seat abolished
Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
In office
October 3, 1845  November 27, 1855
Appointed by James Polk
Preceded by Buckner Thruston
Succeeded by William Merrick
Personal details
Born (1793-03-28)March 28, 1793
Georgetown, Maryland, U.S.
Died May 6, 1872(1872-05-06) (aged 79)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party Democratic

James Dunlop (March 28, 1793 – May 6, 1872) 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 and worked as an attorney 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.

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Legal offices
Preceded by
Buckner Thruston
Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
1845–1855
Succeeded by
William Matthews Merrick
Preceded by
William Cranch
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
1855–1863
Seat abolished
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