James Earl Graves Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- National federal courts · Federal
- Judicial service
- February 15, 2011–present
James Earl Graves Jr.
Judge · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Available research
Biography
Professional career
- presiding justice, 2009-2011
- Justice, Mississippi Supreme Court, 2001-2011
- prof, 2000-2000
- legis, 2000-2000
- Judge, Mississippi Circuit Court, Seventh Judicial District, 1991-2001
- Director, Division of Child Support Enforcement, Mississippi Department of Human Services, 1990-1991
- Special assistant attorney general, State of Mississippi, 1986-1990
- Private practice, Jackson, MS, 1983-1986
- Adjunct professor, Jackson State University, 1980-1997
- Staff attorney, Central Mississippi Legal Services, Jackson, MS, 1980-1983
Judicial service
- Judge, 2000-2000
- Judge, Mississippi Supreme Court, 2001-2011
- Judge, Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2011-present
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Education
- Millsaps College · B.A., 1975
- Syracuse University · M.P.A., 1981
- Syracuse University College of Law
Personal record
Born 1953 · Hinds County, MS
Courtroom rules and guidance
Appellate Oral Argument
In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.
Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessaryFederal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1393611CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1265/james-earl-graves-jr/Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure