Donald James Porter

Who was Donald James Porter?

Donald James Porter was a United States federal judge.

Born in Madison, South Dakota, Porter received a B.S. from the University of South Dakota in 1942 and an LL.B. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1943. He was in the United States Army during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He was a Staff attorney of Office of Temporary Controls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1946. He was a Staff attorney of Office of Temporary Controls, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1947. He was in private practice in Chamberlain, South Dakota from 1947 to 1959. He was a State's attorney of Brule County, South Dakota from 1948 to 1952. He was a South Dakota state representative from 1955 to 1957. He was a State's attorney of Brule County, South Dakota from 1957 to 1959. He was in private practice in Pierre, South Dakota from 1959 to 1977. He was an Associate justice, South Dakota Supreme Court from 1977 to 1979.

Porter was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Porter was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on March 15, 1979, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629.