James M. Moody Jr.

Moody was born in 1964 in El Dorado, Arkansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/113thCongressJudicialNominations/upload/Moody-Senate-Questionnaire-Final.pdf|title=Senate Judiciary Committee Nomination Questionnaire|publisher=|access-date=2013-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202222349/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/113thCongressJudicialNominations/upload/Moody-Senate-Questionnaire-Final.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-02|url-status=dead}} Moody is the son of former Judge James Maxwell Moody, who retired from active service on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas when his son was elevated to the federal bench.Arkansas Times: [https://web.archive.org/web/20020802064945/http://www.arktimes.com/020726coverstoryh.html Fairest on the federal bench.] July 26, 2002. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1986 from the University of Arkansas. He received his Juris Doctor in 1989 from the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law. He became an associate in 1989 at the law firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP, and became a partner at that firm in 1994. His focus at the firm was on civil litigation in state and federal courts.

In 2003, he became a circuit judge for the Third Division of the Sixth Judicial District of Arkansas, a position he held till he received his commission for his federal judicial judgeship.{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/25/president-obama-nominates-six-serve-united-states-district-court|work=whitehouse.gov|title=President Obama Nominates Six to Serve on the United States District Court|via=National Archives|date=25 July 2013}}{{FJC Bio|nid=1394351|inline=yes}}

On July 25, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Moody to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, to the seat being vacated by Judge Susan Webber Wright, who assumed senior status on August 22, 2013. Moody's father said he would retire from the federal district court in the Eastern District of Arkansas if his son wins Senate confirmation;{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Little-Rock-federal-bench-won-t-have-father-son-4816590.php |title=Little Rock federal bench won't have father-son - SFGate |website=www.sfgate.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920131027/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Little-Rock-federal-bench-won-t-have-father-son-4816590.php |archive-date=2013-09-20}} he later retired from active service on March 7, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/moody-james-maxwell|title=Moody, James Maxwell – Federal Judicial Center|website=www.fjc.gov}} On November 14, 2013, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported Moody's nomination to the full Senate. After the first session of the 113th Congress ended, Moody's nomination was returned to President Obama, who renominated Moody in January 2014. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported Moody's nomination to the full Senate on January 16, 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/Materials113thCongress.cfm |title=Judicial Nomination Materials: 113th Congress |access-date=2014-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217035140/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/Materials113thCongress.cfm |archive-date=2013-12-17 |url-status=dead }} On February 12, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on Moody's nomination. On Tuesday February 25, 2014, the Senate invoked cloture on Moody's nomination by a 58–34 vote, with Orrin Hatch (R–Utah) voting "present".{{cite web|title= On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of James Maxwell Moody, Jr., of Arkansas, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00038|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=24 February 2014}} On February 25, 2014, his nomination was confirmed by a 95–4 vote.{{cite web|title=On the Nomination (Confirmation James Maxwell Moody, Jr., of Arkansas, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas)|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00039|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=25 February 2014}} He received his judicial commission on March 10, 2014.

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• {{FJC Bio|nid=1394351}}
• {{Ballotpedia|James_Moody_(Arkansas)|James Maxwell Moody, Jr.}}

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Arkansas lawyers

Category:Arkansas state court judges

Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Category:People from El Dorado, Arkansas

Category:United States district court judges appointed by Barack Obama

Category:University of Arkansas School of Law alumni