James Oakes, Vt. attorney general, federal judge

MONTPELIER - James Oakes of Brattleboro, a former state senator, Vermont attorney general, federal judge, and chief judge of the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, died Saturday on Martha's Vineyard. He was 83.

The cause of death was not announced.

President Nixon appointed Justice Oakes a federal judge in 1970. A year later Nixon appointed him to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

In 1988 Justice Oakes became chief judge of the Second Circuit. He retired in 1992, but continued in senior status until January, when he closed his New York chambers.

Jeff Shields, dean of Vermont Law School, said Justice Oakes was one of the most eminent judges in the country on environmental law, with a strong emphasis on civil liberties and civil rights.

"He was a very special guy, a great representative of Vermont," Shields said. "Something that has always stuck out in my mind, while he had good friends who were governors, senators, and Supreme Court justices, he spent an awful lot of time with people who were farmers and secretaries. He liked people for who they were, not for their station in life."

Shields said Justice Oakes, a Republican, was a protégé of the late George Aiken, a former Vermont governor and US senator.

"He was a member of the progressive wing of the [Republican] party," Shields said.

Justice Oakes served as a trustee at the law school for 30 years. The main building at the law school, James L. and Evelena S. Oakes Hall, is named after him and his late wife. The law school offers a major scholarship in his name to people who want to practice public service law.

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a Democrat, said he had knew Justice Oakes for 40 years.

"He is a man who all of Vermont, regardless of politics or party, should treasure and remember for his brilliance, but most importantly, for his conscience," Leahy said.

Justice Oakes was born in Springfield, Ill. He graduated from Harvard College in 1945 and Harvard Law School in 1947.

He moved to Vermont in 1949 to be a clerk for Second Circuit Court Judge Harrie B. Chase, who maintained his office in the state.

Justice Oakes served in the state Senate from 1961 to 1965. He served as attorney general from 1967 until 1969.

Justice Oakes leaves his wife, Mara Williams; three children; four stepchildren; and a brother.

A service is scheduled for Oct. 27 at the Whittemore Theater at Marlboro College in Vermont.