James Augustine Walsh

Who was James Augustine Walsh?

James Augustine Walsh was a United States federal judge.

Born in Westfield, Massachusetts, Walsh received an LL.B. from Georgetown University Law School in 1928. He was in private practice in Mesa, Arizona from 1928 to 1941, and was a city attorney for the City of Mesa from 1936 to 1940. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of Arizona in 1943. He was a county attorney of Maricopa County, Arizona from 1943 to 1944, and was a judge on the Superior Court of Maricopa County from 1945 to 1947. He returned to private practice in Phoenix, Arizona from 1947 to 1952, and was chief counsel to the Arizona Code Commission from 1951 to 1952.

On July 3, 1952, Walsh was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona vacated by Howard C. Speakman. Walsh was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 5, 1952, and received his commission on July 7, 1952. He served as chief judge from 1961 to 1972, and assumed senior status on July 9, 1976. He served in that capacity until his death.

The James A. Walsh United States Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona was renamed in his honor in 1985.