R. James Harvey

American judge and politician (1922–2019)

Russell James Harvey (July 4, 1922 – July 20, 2019) usually known as James Harvey, was a United States representative from Michigan and an inactive Senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Harvey was born in Iron Mountain; his mother and paternal grandparents were immigrants from England. He enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1940, but interrupted his studies in 1942 to serve in the United States Army Air Forces for three years. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of law in Saginaw, Michigan in 1949. He was assistant city attorney from 1949 to 1953, a city councilman and a member of the Saginaw County board of supervisors from 1955 to 1957. He was mayor of Saginaw from 1957 to 1959.

In 1960, with the help of campaign manager Emil Lockwood, Harvey was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 8th congressional district to the 87th United States Congress. He was subsequently re elected to the six succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1961 to January 31, 1974. He resigned on January 31, 1974.

Harvey was nominated by President Richard Nixon on December 5, 1973, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan vacated by Judge Ralph M. Freeman. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 13, 1973, and received his commission on December 19, 1973. He assumed senior status due to a certified disability on March 31, 1984.