James Maxwell Moody, Jr.

James "Jay" Maxwell Moody Jr. (born August 8, 1964) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas and former circuit judge for the Third Division of the Sixth Judicial District of Arkansas.

Early life and career

Moody was born in 1964 in El Dorado, Arkansas. Moody is the son of former Judge James Maxwell Moody, who retired from active service on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas when his son was elevated to the federal bench. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1986 from the University of Arkansas. He received his Juris Doctor in 1989 from the University of Arkansas Bowen School of Law. He became an associate in 1989 at the law firm of Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, LLP, and became a partner at that firm in 1994. His focus at the firm was on civil litigation in state and federal courts.

Judicial career In 2003, he became a circuit judge for the Third Division of the Sixth Judicial District of Arkansas, a position he held till he received his commission for his federal judicial judgeship.

Federal judicial service

On July 25, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Moody to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, to the seat being vacated by Judge Susan Webber Wright, who assumed senior status on August 22, 2013. he later retired from active service on March 7, 2014. On November 14, 2013, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported Moody's nomination to the full Senate. After the first session of the 113th Congress ended, Moody's nomination was returned to President Obama, who renominated Moody in January 2014. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported Moody's nomination to the full Senate on January 16, 2014. On February 12, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on Moody's nomination. On Tuesday February 25, 2014, the Senate invoked cloture on Moody's nomination by a 58–34 vote, with Orrin Hatch (R–Utah) voting "present". On February 25, 2014, his nomination was confirmed by a 95–4 vote. He received his judicial commission on March 10, 2014.