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Inventory of the James Braxton Craven Papers, 1961-1977

Abstract

North Carolina lawyer and federal judge.

The legal and judicial papers of U.S. Circuit Court Judge James Braxton Craven span the years 1961-1977. Files of correspondence, memoranda, and legal motions and orders concern a multitude of cases in which Craven was involved. Cases include civil suits; criminal cases, including many prisoners' petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus, particularly since Gideon v. Wainwright; and appeals from administrative boards and commissions, including the FCC, SEC, NLRB, and others. After 1970, Craven served on "three-judge" district court sessions, special courts which usually relate to civil suits raising questions of governmental policy and of constitutional law, and the files document these as well. There are also files dating from 1964-1973 which concern school integration cases. The correspondence between judges is particularly significant, revealing the intersection of personal belief and the carrying out of judicial processes in the lower and higher courts. The collection also includes a précis outlining the legal philosophy and the highlights of Craven's career, but contains very little personal material.

Descriptive Summary

Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Creator
Craven, James Braxton
Title
James Braxton Craven Papers, 1961-1977
Language of Material
English
Extent
224.0 Linear Feet, 168,210 Items
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Collection Overview

The legal and judicial papers of U.S. Circuit Court Judge James Braxton Craven span the years 1961-1977. Files of correspondence, memoranda, and legal motions and orders concern a multitude of cases in which Craven was involved. Cases include civil suits; criminal cases, including many prisoners' petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus, particularly since Gideon v. Wainwright; and appeals from administrative boards and commissions, including the FCC, SEC, NLRB, and others. After 1970, Craven served on "three-judge" district court sessions, special courts which usually relate to civil suits raising questions of governmental policy and of constitutional law, and the files document these as well. There are also files dating from 1964-1973 which concern school integration cases. The correspondence between judges is particularly significant, revealing the intersection of personal belief and the carrying out of judicial processes in the lower and higher courts. The collection also includes a précis outlining the legal philosophy and the highlights of Craven's career, but contains very little personal material. Arrangement is in one large alphabetical file, prefaced by a file of biographical information.

Administrative Information

Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

warning Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

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The bulk of the series is taken up by many boxes of files from U.S. Court of Appeals cases. Each box contains approximately .5 linear feet of material. Other smaller sections contain files on U.S. District Court cases, files on the Criminal Justice and the Federal Magistrates acts, correspondence between judges, school civil rights cases, administrative files, and judicial conferences.

Biographical information; inventory of collection
Box 1
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: Reports, 1970-1976
Box 1
Appellate Judges Seminar and Planning Committee, 1974-1976
Box 2
Appellate Justice Noational Conference, San Diego, Ca., 1975
Box 3
Clare Plan (re: standards for admission to practice in the federal courts), 1975-1977
Box 4
Correspondence: "Crackpot Letters," 1962-1977
Box 4
Correspondence with eleven judges, 1961-1977
Box 5
Criminal Justice Act, 1964-1966
Box 6
Federal Magistrates Act, 1969-1970
Box 6
School Civil Rights Cases, 1964-1973
Box 7
8,790 to 15,713, 1968-1970
Box 8-66
71-1001 to 77-1681, 1971-1977
Box 67-222
Misc. 500 to Misc. 989, 1968-1973
Box 223-226
Misc. 72-8002 to Misc. 77-8080, 1972-1977
Box 227-239
Unnumbered, 1966-1973
Box 240
Circuit Executive, 1974-1977
Box 241-243
Clerk's Office, 1974-1977
Box 244-245
Agenda and Minutes of Meetings, Judicial Council, 1968-1977
Box 246
Judicial Council Matters, 1974-1977
Box 247-249
Court Calendars and Case Notes, 1972-1977
Box 250-251
Judicial Conferences, 1970-1977
Box 252
Paper Shuffling File, 1968
Box 253
Rules, 1966-1975
Box 253
Maryland, 1973-1975
Box 254
Prisoners, Habeas Corpus Cases, 1961-1966 and 1970-1971
Box 254
N.C. Wilmington District, 1966-1977
Box 255
Pennsylvania, 1975
Box 255
Three-Judge, 1965 and 1970-1977
Box 256-267

Historical Note

Chronology

DateEvent(s)
1918 April 3James Braxton Craven born in Lenoir County, N.C., son of a Methodist minister
1939A.B., Duke University
1942LL.B., Harvard University
1942-1946Served in U.S. Navy
1946Admitted to North Carolina Bar
Solicitor of the Burke County Criminal Court
1948-1952Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
1956Appointed North Carolina Superior Judge
1959-1960Vice President of the North Carolina Bar Association
1961Appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District in North Carolina
1963Elected a member of the Institute of Judicial Administration
1966-1977U.S. Circuit Judge, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
1967Visiting professor in constitutional law at the University of North Carolina Law School
1968Visiting professor in federal courts at the University of Texas Law School
1970Visiting professor in constitutional law at the University of North Carolina Law School
1972-1973Duke University Board of Trustees member
1977 May 3Death of James Braxton Craven at age 59

Subject Headings

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], James Braxton Craven Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The James Braxton Craven Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 1978.

Processing Information

Minimally processed and catalogued by Rubenstein Library staff, 1981.

Encoded by Ted Holt and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, March 2008.

Accession 1-12-1978 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.