Changes

| successor2 =John Wheadon deGravelles

| successor2 =John Wheadon deGravelles

| birth_date = February 29, 1944

| birth_date = February 29, 1944

| birth_place= [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]

| birth_place=[[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]

| death_date= December 9, 2017 (aged 73)

| death_date=December 9, 2017 (aged 73)

| death_place=[[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana

| death_place=[[Baton Rouge]], Louisiana

| death_cause=Brief illness

| death_cause=Brief illness

'''James Joseph Brady''', known as '''Jim Brady''' (February 29, 1944 –  December 9, 2017), was a United States District Judge based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]. Appointed to the bench in 1999 by his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]], Brady was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] in 2000.

'''James Joseph Brady''', known as '''Jim Brady''' (February 29, 1944 –  December 9, 2017), was a United States District Judge based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]]. Appointed to the bench in 1999 by his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]], Brady was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] in 2000.

Born in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], Brady was the second of four sons of  Robert and Arlene Brady. In 1950, his father moved the family to [[Venezuela]] to accept a position as a dredging engineer for the Orinoco Mining Company. Six years later, the Bradys relocated to Covington in St. Tammany Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. He graduated in 1962 from Covington High School, at which he was the student council  president. He received a degree in history in 1966 from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. He letter for four years in track at Southeastern and was the student body president in his senior year. In 1969, he received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center, in Baton Rouge, at which he was again the student body president. He began the private practice of law in 1969 and continued in that capacity until he became a federal judge. He was a charter member of the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame. In 2018, he will receive posthumous recognition as the "Outstanding Jurist"  from the Louisiana Bar Foundation.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=james-j-brady-jim&pid=187496907|title=Judge James J. "Jim" Brady|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 11, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>.

 

Born in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], Brady was the second of four sons of  Robert and Arlene Brady. In 1950, his father moved the family to [[Venezuela]] to accept a position as a dredging engineer for the Orinoco Mining Company. Six years later, the Bradys relocated to Covington in St. Tammany Parish in [[suburb]]an [[New Orleans]]. He graduated in 1962 from Covington High School, at which he was the student council  president. He received a degree in history in 1966 from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in Tangipahoa Parish. He letter for four years in track at Southeastern and was the student body president in his senior year. In 1969, he received his [[Juris Doctor]]ate degree from the [[Louisiana State University]] Law Center, in Baton Rouge, at which he was again the student body president.<ref name=obit/>

 

 

Brady began the private practice of law in 1969 and continued in that capacity until he became a federal judge thirty-one years later. He was a charter member of the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame. In 2018, he will receive posthumous recognition as the "Outstanding Jurist"  from the Louisiana Bar Foundation.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=james-j-brady-jim&pid=187496907|title=Judge James J. "Jim" Brady|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 11, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>.

In 1971, Brady was elected to the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana. He was elected vice chairman of his party; in 1985, he became the state Democratic chairman. He was re-elected chairman in 1987 and 1991. He was a member of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, of which he was elected the president in 1991, 1993, and 1995, He was designated as a vice chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]].. In 1974, he was a delegate to the DNC's National Mid-Term Conference, a meeting no longer held. Brady was a delegate to each [[Democratic National Convention]] from 1980 to 1996.He was a board member of the Federal Judges Association and  the president of the 5th Circuit District Judges Association.<ref name=obit/>

In 1971, Brady was elected to the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana. He was elected vice chairman of his party; in 1985, he became the state Democratic chairman. He was re-elected chairman in 1987 and 1991. He was a member of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, of which he was elected the president in 1991, 1993, and 1995, He was designated as a vice chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]].. In 1974, he was a delegate to the DNC's National Mid-Term Conference, a meeting no longer held. Brady was a delegate to each [[Democratic National Convention]] from 1980 to 1996.He was a board member of the Federal Judges Association and  the president of the 5th Circuit District Judges Association.<ref name=obit/>

In 1986, Brady was the general counsel in the successful campaign to nominate [[John Breaux]] as the successor to U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]]. In 1992, Brady pushed the Democratic chairs to endorse [[Arkansas]] Govenor Bill Clinton prior to the critical presidential primary in [[New Hampshire]], in which Clinton finished in second place.  Seven years later, on July 14, 1999, President Clinton rewarded Brady by naming him to fill the vacancy left by John Victor Parker on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. On the court, Judge Brady settled the longstanding school [[desegregation]] suit against the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. After more than thirteen years as a judge, he assumed senior status but still handled 90 percent of the cases of a full-time judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_e7e342b0-dd2f-11e7-a35f-1fb692b4316d.html|title=Federal District Judge James J. Brady dies; settle longstanding  Baton Rouge desegregation case|author=Emma Discher|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 9, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>

In 1986, Brady was the general counsel in the successful campaign to nominate [[John Breaux]] as the successor to U.S. Senator [[Russell Long]]. In 1992, Brady pushed the Democratic chairs to endorse [[Arkansas]] Govenor Bill Clinton prior to the critical presidential primary in [[New Hampshire]], in which Clinton finished in second place.  Seven years later, on July 14, 1999, President Clinton rewarded Brady by naming him to fill the vacancy left by John Victor Parker on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. On the court, Judge Brady settled the longstanding school [[desegregation]] suit against the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. After more than thirteen years as a judge, he assumed senior status but still handled 90 percent of the cases of a full-time judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/article_e7e342b0-dd2f-11e7-a35f-1fb692b4316d.html|title=Federal District Judge James J. Brady dies; settle longstanding  Baton Rouge desegregation case|author=Emma Discher|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=December 9, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>

He and his wife, Karen (born c. 1945), whom he wed in 1967, have a son, James Sean Brady (wife Ashley) of College Station,  [[Texas]], and a daughter, Kathleen Melissa Stimpert (husband Richard) of [[Austin]], Texas. He died in a Baton Rouge hospital of a brief illness at the age of seventy-three. Memorial services were held at University [[Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.<ref name=obit/>

 

Brady and his wife, the former Karen Nix (born c. 1945), whom he wed in 1967, have a son, James Sean Brady (wife Ashley) of College Station,  [[Texas]], and a daughter, Kathleen Melissa Stimpert (husband Richard) of [[Austin]], Texas. He died in a Baton Rouge hospital of a brief illness at the age of seventy-three. Memorial services were held at University [[Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.<ref name=obit/>

 

Brady's obituary indicates that he "deeply cared for people, was kind to everyone he met and did his best to live the Golden Rule. Jim dedicated his life to caring for those Jesus called "the least of these." He believed in justice for all, regardless of wealth, power or position. He believed that whether prince or pauper, in his court you were equal in the eyes of the law. He was, as friends and family called him, 'Atticus Finch in the flesh.'"<ref name=obit/>

Brady's obituary indicates that he "deeply cared for people, was kind to everyone he met and did his best to live the Golden Rule. Jim dedicated his life to caring for those Jesus called "the least of these." He believed in justice for all, regardless of wealth, power or position. He believed that whether prince or pauper, in his court you were equal in the eyes of the law. He was, as friends and family called him, 'Atticus Finch in the flesh.'"<ref name=obit/>Prior to his death, Brady was scheduled to preside over a case of a private detective, Jordan Hamlett of [[Lafayette]], indicted for attempting to steal the undisclosed tax returns of [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]. Jury selection was to have begun two days after the judge's passing.<ref>{{cite web|url=

Prior to his death, Brady was scheduled to preside over a case of a private detective, Jordan Hamlett of [[Lafayette]], indicted for attempting to steal the undisclosed tax returns of [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]]. Jury selection was to have begun two days after the judge's passing.<ref>{{cite web|url=

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/judge-dies-days-before-trial-involving-trump-tax-returns|title=Judge dies days before trial involving Trump tax returns|publisher=Fox 32 [[Chicago]]|date=December 9, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/judge-dies-days-before-trial-involving-trump-tax-returns|title=Judge dies days before trial involving Trump tax returns|publisher=Fox 32 [[Chicago]]|date=December 9, 2017|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref>