Date Died: Living

Place Buried: Living

James Gooden Exum, Jr. was born on September 14, 1935 in Greene County, NC, the son of James Gooden Exum and Mary Well (Bost) Exum. He graduated from Snow Hill High School in 1953. He then received an A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1957, and an LL. B degree from the New York University School of Law in 1960. He attended the National Judicial College in 1969.

From 1960 to 1961, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as a Law Clerk on the NC Supreme Court.

In 1961, James Gooden Exum, Jr. moved to Greensboro and joined the law firm of Smith Moore Smith Schell & Hunter, where he remained until 1967.

On June 29, 1963, James Gooden Exum, Jr. married Judith Jamison; they have two sons and one daughter.

In the 1966 General Assembly, James Gooden Exum, Jr. was elected as one of six men to represent the 26th NC House District (Guilford County) in the NC House of Representatives of the:
- 127th General Assembly that met in 1967

On July 1, 1967, Governor Daniel Killian Moore appointed James Gooden Exum, Jr. as a Judge on the NC Superior Court, 18th Judicial District. He was elected in his own right in 1968, and he remained on this bench until 1974.

In the 1974 General Election, James Gooden Exum, Jr. was elected as an Associate Justice on the NC Supreme Court, replacing Associate Justice Carlisle Wallace Higgins, who retired and did not run for re-election. He took the oath of office in January of 1975.

In 1976, James Gooden Exum, Jr. attended the New York University School of Law and Institute of Judicial Administration.

In the 1986 General Elections, James Gooden Exum, Jr. was elected as the next Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court, defeating the sitting Chief Justice Rhoda Billings. He served until January 1, 1995.

From 1977 to 1986, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina Law School.

From 1995 to 1996, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as an Adjunct Professor at the Duke University School of Law.

From 1996 until ?, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as an Attorney at the law firm of Smith Moore, LLP in Greensboro, NC.

From 1998 to 2001, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as General Counsel for the General Alumni Association at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.

From 2006 until ?, James Gooden Exum, Jr. served as Distinguished Jurist in Residence at the Elon University School of Law.

Son of James G. Exum and Mary Well Bost. Attended Snow Hill (NC) High School 1953; A.B., University of North Carolina 1957; LLB, New York University School of Law 1960; National Judicial College 1969; Senior Appellate Judges Seminar, New York University School of Law and Institute of Judicial Administration 1976.

Professional Background:

Law Clerk, Associate Justice Emery B. Denny, NC Supreme Court 1960-1961.

Practicing attorney in the firm of Smith, Moore, Smith, Schell, and Hunter 1961-1967.

Resident Superior Court Judge, 18th Judicial District 1967-1974 (appointed on July 1, 1967 by Governor Daniel K. Moore to a newly created judgeship, elected in 1968).

Associate Justice, NC Supreme Court, elected 1974, re-elected.

Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court, 1986

Visiting lecturer, University of North Carolina School of Law 1978-1985.

Organizations:

Conference of Chief Justices 1986-? (member, Board of Directors, 1990-?; Chair, Committee on Resolutions; Liaison, Commission on Uniform Laws); Judicial Conference of the United States (Member, Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules 1988-1990); American Bar Association (Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Death Penalty Costs 1983-?); Chair, Standing Committee on Criminal Justice Standards 1990-1993; Member, Criminal Justice Section Council 1981-1985; NC Bar Association (Vice Chari, Task Force on Alternatives to Litigation 1984-1986; Member, Central Selection Committee, Morehead Scholarship Foundation 1975-1988; President, General Alumni Association, UNC-CH 1987-1988; Mason; Shriner; Sigma Nu; Phi Delta Phi; Watauga Club; Milburnie Fishing Club; Capitol City Club; Wake Count Chittlin' Club.

Political Activities:

Elected to the NC House of Representatives, 1967.

Military Service:

US Army Reserves 1961-1967 (Captain); US Army Information School 1961 (honor graduate).

Honors and Awards:

Valedictorian 1953; Distinguished Service Award, Psi Chapter, Sigma Nu Fraternity 1974; Distinguished Service Award, Greensboro Jaycees 1968; Root Tilden Scholar 1957-1960; Benjamin F. Butler Memorial Award 1960; Morehead Scholar 1953-1957; Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award 1957; Phi Eta Sigman 1954; President, Phi Beta Kappa 1956.

Personal Information:

Married to Judith Jamison on June 29, 1963. Children: James Gooden, Steven Jamison, and Mary March.

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