James Jefferson Mayfield Sr. (March 22, 1861 – January 1, 1927) was an American judge, politician and educator, who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1908 to 1920.
J. J. Mayfield | |
|---|---|
.png) Mayfield in 1904 | |
| Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court | |
| In office 1908–1920 | |
| Preceded by | Newly reconstituted court |
| Succeeded by | Joel B. Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Jefferson Mayfield March 22, 1861 Moores Bridge, Alabama, US |
| Died | January 1, 1927 (aged 65) Montgomery, Alabama, US |
| Children | James J. Mayfield |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
| Occupation | Judge, politician, educator |
Early life
editMayfield was born on March 22, 1861, in Moores Bridge, Alabama, to James Jefferson Mayfield and Amanda C. Mayfield (née South). He attended the University of Alabama from September 18, 1883, to June 1888, with a degree in law. He worked as a teacher until 1887, when he was elected tutor of physics and astronomy at the University of Alabama.[1]
Career
editMayfield served in Alabama Legislature in 1894 and 1895. He then served as judge of Tuscaloosa County from 1896 to October 1, 1903, when he was elected office of code commissioner by the Alabama Legislature. While serving, he was appointed on a committee to draft a bill providing for the codification and compilation of the Code of 1896, and assisted code commissioner W. L. Martin in the perfection of the Code of 1896, and also prepared the Code of 1906.[1]
In 1980, Mayfield was elected as an associate justice to the state supreme court. He resigned in 1919, and was succeeded by Joel B. Brown.[2] Mayfield was a Democratic candidate in the 1926 Alabama Senate elections, but was defeated.[3]
Personal life
editOn June 30, 1897, Mayfield married Susie Fitts Martin in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1]
Mayfield died during a football game in Montgomery, Alabama, on January 1, 1927.[3] His son James J. Mayfield later served as an Associate Justice.[2][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c DuBose, Joel Campbell (1904). Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical. Southern historical assoc. pp. 269, 270.
- ^ a b "Alabama Appellate Courts: History of Supreme Court". Judiciary of Alabama. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "JUDGE DIES AT RADIO OF FOOTBALL GAME; Former Supreme Court Justice James J. Mayfield of Alabama Expires Suddenly. SENATE CANDIDATE IN 1926 He Resigned After Eleven Years' Service on the Bench to Prepare a New State Code". The New York Times. January 2, 1927. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "JAMES JEFFERSON MAYFIELD: Associate Justice - 1954-1956" (PDF). Retrieved August 3, 2024.