James Clinton Turk

James Clinton Turk
Judge on United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
In office October 17, 1972 – November 1, 2002
Nominated by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	H. Emory Widener, Jr.
Succeeded by	Glen E. Conrad
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 37th district
In office January 12, 1972 – October 1972
Preceded by	None (district reestablished)
Succeeded by	John N. Dalton
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 13th district
In office January 12, 1966 – January 12, 1972
Preceded by	Landon R. Wyatt William F. Stone
Succeeded by	Williard J. Moody
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 20th district
In office January 8, 1964 – January 12, 1966
Preceded by	Hale Collins
Succeeded by	George S. Adhizer II
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 21st district
In office January 13, 1960 – January 8, 1964
Preceded by	Ted Dalton
Succeeded by	Curry Carter
Personal details
Born	James Clinton Turk (1923-05-03)May 3, 1923 Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Died	Radford, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Barbara Duncan
Alma mater	Roanoke College Washington & Lee University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1943–1946
Rank	Staff sergeant
Battles/wars	World War II

James Clinton Turk (May 3, 1923 – July 6, 2014) was a state senator and United States federal judge from Virginia.

Biography

Born in Roanoke County, Virginia, Turk was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received an A.B. from Roanoke College in 1949. He received an LL.B. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1952. He was in private practice in Radford, Virginia from 1952 to 1972. He was a member of the Virginia State Senate from 1959 to 1972. He was minority leader from 1965 to 1972.

On September 25, 1972, Turk was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia vacated by Hiram Emory Widener, Jr. Turk was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 12, 1972, and received his commission on October 17, 1972. He served as chief judge from 1973 to 1993, assuming senior status on November 1, 2002. He died on July 6, 2014 in Radford, Virginia.

Sources

• James Clinton Turk at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Hiram Emory Widener, Jr.	Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 1972–2002	Succeeded by Glen E. Conrad