John E. Miller

For the state representative, see John E. Miller (Arkansas politician). For the U.S. Army general, see John E. Miller (general).

John Elvis Miller (May 15, 1888 – January 30, 1981) was a United States representative and United States Senator from Arkansas and later was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

John E. Miller
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office February 28, 1967 – January 30, 1981
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office 1958–1967
Preceded by	Harry Jacob Lemley
Succeeded by	Oren Harris
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
In office March 12, 1941 – February 28, 1967
Appointed by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Heartsill Ragon
Succeeded by	Paul X. Williams
United States Senator from Arkansas
In office November 15, 1937 – March 31, 1941
Preceded by	Joseph Taylor Robinson
Succeeded by	G. Lloyd Spencer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1931 – November 14, 1937
Preceded by	Pearl Peden Oldfield
Succeeded by	Wilbur Mills
Personal details
Born	John Elvis Miller (1888-05-15)May 15, 1888 Aid, Missouri
Died	January 30, 1981(1981-01-30) (aged 92) Little Rock, Arkansas
Resting place	Forest Park Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Fort Smith, Arkansas
Education	Southeast Missouri State Teachers College Valparaiso University University of Kentucky College of Law (LL.B.)

Education and career

Born on May 15, 1888, in Aid, Stoddard County, Missouri, Miller attended the public schools, Southeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Southeast Missouri State University) and Valparaiso University. He received a Bachelor of Laws in 1912 from the University of Kentucky College of Law and was admitted to the bar the same year. He entered private practice in Searcy, Arkansas from 1912 to 1919 and also engaged in banking. He was a delegate to the Arkansas state constitutional convention in 1918. He was a prosecutor for the First Judicial Circuit of Arkansas from 1919 to 1922.

Congressional service

Miller was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives of the 72nd United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1931, to November 14, 1937, when he resigned to become a United States senator.

Main article: 1937 United States Senate special election in Arkansas

He was elected on October 18, 1937, as a Democrat to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Senator Joseph Taylor Robinson for the term ending January 3, 1943, and served from November 15, 1937, until his resignation effective March 31, 1941, to assume a federal judicial post.

Federal judicial service

Miller was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 31, 1941, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas vacated by Judge Heartsill Ragon. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 31, 1941, and received his commission on March 12, 1941. He served as Chief Judge from 1958 to 1967 and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1962 to 1963. He assumed senior status on February 28, 1967. His service terminated on January 30, 1981, due to his death in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the time of his death, he resided in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. He was interred in Forest Park Cemetery.

Notable case

Miller was one of the district judges in the Little Rock Nine case.

Sources

• United States Congress. "John E. Miller (id: M000738)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.