James Ward Rector

James Ward Rector (June 24, 1903 – August 6, 1979) was an American jurist from Wisconsin who served as a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Early life, education, career Rector was in Glenwood, Missouri. He graduated high school at the age of sixteen. He attended the University of Missouri, but left the school amid the recession of 1920–1921 in order to work in the logging industry to earn money to pay for his further education.

Subsequent career After his re-election loss, Rector was offered a post as a Nuremberg war crimes trials judge, but declined the offer. Rector did not view such work as contributing to advancing the cause of law. Rector returned to the practice of law after losing re-election.

In 1948, Rector was appointed deputy council of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, resigning the following year in order to become vice president of the First Wisconsin Trust Company of Milwaukee. He held this role until retiring in 1968.

Personal life and death Rector and his wife, Virginia, had four children: James Jr., Schuyler, Nancy, and Kathleen. Their son, James Jr., served as the commissioner of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Rector died at the age of 77 on August 6, 1979.