James L. Foreman

James L. Foreman (May 12, 1927 – June 3, 2012) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

James L. Foreman
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
In office June 1, 1992 – June 3, 2012
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
In office 1979–1992
Preceded by	Robert Dale Morgan
Succeeded by	William Donald Stiehl
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
In office March 31, 1979 – June 1, 1992
Appointed by	operation of law
Preceded by	Seat established by 93 Stat. 6
Succeeded by	John Phil Gilbert
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
In office 1978–1979
Preceded by	Henry Seiler Wise
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
In office March 7, 1972 – March 31, 1979
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	William George Juergens
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	James L. Foreman (1927-05-12)May 12, 1927 Metropolis, Illinois
Died	June 3, 2012(2012-06-03) (aged 85) Paducah, Kentucky
Education	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (B.S.) University of Illinois College of Law (J.D.)

Education and career

Born in Metropolis, Illinois, Foreman was in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1950, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1952. From 1952 to 1972, he was in private practice in Metropolis. He was the assistant state attorney general of Illinois from 1953 to 1960, and then a state's attorney of Massac County, Illinois until 1964.

Federal judicial service

On February 16, 1972, Foreman was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois vacated by Judge William George Juergens. Foreman was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 1972, and received his commission on March 7, 1972. He served as Chief Judge from 1978 until March 31, 1979, when the districts of Illinois were reorganized and he was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. He then served as Chief Judge of his new district until 1992, assuming senior status on June 1, 1992, and assuming inactive senior status May 12, 2007. He died on June 3, 2012, in Paducah, Kentucky.

Sources

• James L. Foreman at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.