William H. Barbour Jr.

William Henry Barbour Jr. (February 4, 1941 – January 8, 2021) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

William H. Barbour Jr.
Barbour in 2018
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
In office
February 4, 2006 – January 8, 2021
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
In office
1989–1996
Preceded byWalter Nixon
Succeeded byTom Stewart Lee
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
In office
April 25, 1983 – February 4, 2006
Appointed byRonald Reagan
Preceded byWilliam Harold Cox
Succeeded byCarlton W. Reeves
Personal details
Born
William Henry Barbour Jr.

(1941-02-04)February 4, 1941
Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 2021(2021-01-08) (aged 79)
Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
RelativesHaley Barbour (cousin)
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
University of Mississippi (JD)

Early life and education

edit

Barbour was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University in 1963 where he lettered in football and was a member of The University Cottage Club. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1966 and then attended the Graduate Tax Program at New York University School of Law.

Career

edit

After graduating from law school, Barbour returned to Mississippi. He established his practice with his family's private law firm in Yazoo City, Mississippi from 1966 to 1983, and was also a youth counselor for the Yazoo County Youth Court from 1971 to 1982.[1]

Federal judicial service

edit
 
Barbour in the 1980s.

Barbour was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on March 15, 1983, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi vacated by Judge William Harold Cox. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 21, 1983, and received his commission on April 25, 1983. He served as Chief Judge from 1989 to 1996, and assumed senior status on February 4, 2006.[1] Barbour indicated that he would take inactive senior status on January 4, 2019, meaning that while he remained a federal judge, he no longer heard cases or participated in the business of the court.[2]

Personal life

edit

Barbour was a cousin and former law partner of Haley Barbour, former Governor of Mississippi.[3]

Death

edit

Barbour died on January 8, 2021, at his home in Yazoo City.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Barbour, William Henry, Jr. - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
  2. ^ "Announcement of inactive senior status from the Southern District of Mississippi" (PDF).
  3. ^ Neil Weinberg (July 22, 2002). "Asleep at the Switch". Forbes. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  4. ^ "Judge William Henry Barbour Jr". The Yazoo Herald. January 9, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-14.

Sources

edit
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
1983–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
1989–1996
Succeeded by