U.S. General Services Administration
U.S. Courthouse in Jackson, Tennessee renamed for local federal judge
On Friday, June 7, more than 300 people attended a ceremony to celebrate the naming of the Federal Courthouse in Jackson, Tennessee. The courthouse was officially named the James D. Todd United States Courthouse, in honor of Judge Todd, who served as the District and Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee for more than four decades.
“This is far more than I would have ever anticipated … far more than I deserve, I will never forget this day.” said Todd. “Earlier, I said this was like going to my own funeral, but I’ve since decided that’s not true. This is not like a funeral; this is more like going to heaven while you are still alive. I hope when you come into this building in years to come, you will think of me kindly, because that’s the way I will be thinking of you.”
Judge Todd was born in Scotts Hill, Tennessee, and educated in the public schools of Madison and Henderson Counties. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Lambuth College in 1965, a Master of Combined Sciences degree from the University of Mississippi in 1968, and a Juris Doctor degree from Memphis State University in 1972, where he served on the law review.
From 1965 to 1972, Judge Todd was a high school chemistry teacher and chairman of the science department. Upon graduation from law school, he practiced law in Jackson at Waldrop, Hall, Tomlin, and Farmer until 1983 when Governor Lamar Alexander appointed him judge of the Circuit Court for the 26th Judicial District of Tennessee.
In 1985, then President Ronald Reagan appointed Judge Todd to the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. He was chief judge of the district from 2001 to 2007. Judge Todd has served as president of the District Judges Association of the 6th Circuit and as a board member of the Federal Judges Association.