James A. Parsons ( in Steuben County, New York – March 4, 1945, in Albany, New York) was an American lawyer and politician.

Life

He was admitted to the bar of Nebraska in 1890, and moved back to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in 1893. He then lived in

Hornell, New York Hornell is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Steuben County, New York, Steuben County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population was 8,259 at the 2020 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early set ...

, where he was at times City Attorney and City Recorder. In 1911, he was appointed Fourth Deputy Attorney General by Thomas Carmody, and his first task was to resume the Queens graft prosecutions, relieving

Arthur Train Arthur Cheney Train (September 6, 1875 – December 22, 1945), also called Arthur Chesney Train, was an American lawyer and writer of legal thrillers, particularly known for his novels of courtroom intrigue and the creation of the fictional lawyer ...

who had been the Special Deputy Attorney General in charge of the case, appointed by Carmody's predecessor

Edward R. O'Malley Edward Richard O'Malley (March 13, 1863 – May 30, 1935) was an American lawyer and politician who was New York Attorney General and a justice of the New York Supreme Court. Life He was born on March 13, 1863, in Medina, Orleans County, New Yor ...

. Upon Carmody's resignation on September 2, 1914, Parsons was appointed New York State Attorney General by Governor

Martin H. Glynn Martin Henry Glynn (September 27, 1871December 14, 1924) was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of ...

for the remaining four months of Carmody's term. He ran for re-election in November 1914, but was defeated by Republican

Egburt E. Woodbury Egburt E. Woodbury (March 29, 1861 – March 13, 1920) was an American lawyer and politician. Life He was born on March 29, 1861, in Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County, New York. He attended the common schools, and Chamberlain Institute in Randol ...

. He was an alternate delegate to the

1912 Democratic National Convention The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory off North Howard Street in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912. The Convention The convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore from June 25 t ...

, and a delegate to the

1920 Democratic National Convention Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number), the natural number following 18 and preceding 20 * one of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (film), a 1987 science fiction film Music ...

. He was counsel to Governor

Al Smith Alfred Emanuel Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was an American politician who served four terms as Governor of New York and was the Democratic Party's candidate for president in 1928. The son of an Irish-American mother and a C ...

who appointed him in 1923 New York State Public Service Commissioner, and in 1924 a judge of the

New York Court of Claims The New York State Court of Claims is the court of the New York State Unified Court System which handles all claims against the State of New York and certain state agencies. Judges Judges of the Court of Claims are appointed by the Governor of New ...

a post he held until 1936 when he resigned.

Sources

Political Graveyard

List of New York Attorneys General, at Office of the NYSAG

The Queens prosecution, in NYT on January 12, 1911

His appointment as NYSAG, in NYT on September 3, 1914 {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, James A 1860s births 1945 deaths New York State attorneys general People from Hornell, New York New York (state) state court judges