Larkins, John Davis, Jr.

Born June 8, 1909, in Morristown, TN
Died February 16, 1990, in Kinston, NC

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Nominated by John F. Kennedy on August 8, 1961, to a new seat authorized by 75 Stat. 80. Confirmed by the Senate on August 21, 1961, and received commission on August 21, 1961. Served as chief judge, 1975-1979. Assumed senior status on June 8, 1979. Service terminated on February 16, 1990, due to death.

Education:
Wake Forest College School of Law
Wake Forest College, B.A., 1929
Read law, 1930

Professional Career:

Private practice, Trenton, North Carolina, 1930-1961
U.S. Army, 1945
Conciliation commissioner in bankruptcy, Eastern District of North Carolina, 1930
State senator, North Carolina, 1936-1954; president pro tem, 1941-1943
Liaison officer, legislative counsel to Gov. Luther H. Hodges, North Carolina, 1955

Bibliography

Larkins, John D. Politics, Bar and Bench: A Memoir of U.S. District Judge John Davis Larkins, Jr. Edited by Don Lennon and Fred Ragan. New Bern, N.C.: Historical Society of Eastern North Carolina, 1980.

Manuscript Collections

East Carolina University
Greenville, N.C.
John D. Larkins, Jr. papers, 1934-1968.
ca. 10,000 items; finding aid; collection contains personal correspondence (1948-1968), North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee correspondence (1956-1960), speeches, legislative papers and bulletins, judge's notes for the proceedings of the U.S. district court (1961-1967), certificates, campaign literature, and scrapbooks.

Oral History

Larkins, John Davis, Jr. "John Davis Larkins, Jr., Oral History." Interview conducted on May 7, June 30, July 17, 1975, September 8, October 20, 1977, and March 28, 1978, by Donald Lennon and Fred Ragan. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 1978. Audiotape, 12 hours; transcript, 275 pages.

Federal Judicial Center

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Larkins, John Davis, Jr.