John H. Hannah Jr.

For other people named John Hannah, see John Hannah (disambiguation).

John H. Hannah Jr.
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office 2001 – December 4, 2003
Preceded by	Richard A. Schell
Succeeded by	Thad Heartfield
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
In office March 11, 1994 – December 4, 2003
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Succeeded by	Michael H. Schneider Sr.
Secretary of State of Texas
In office April 15, 1991 – March 1994
Governor	Ann Richards
Preceded by	George Bayoud
Succeeded by	Ron Kirk
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 5th district
In office January 10, 1967 – January 9, 1973
Preceded by	Steve Burgess
Succeeded by	Herman Adams, Jr.
Personal details
Born	John Henry Hannah Jr. (1939-06-30)June 30, 1939 Nacogdoches County, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 4, 2003(2003-12-04) (aged 64) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Sam Houston State University (BS)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1958–1961

John Henry Hannah Jr. (June 30, 1939 – December 4, 2003) from was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Early life and education

Born in Nacogdoches County, Hannah was raised in Diboll, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University in 1966 and attended the University of Houston Law Center and the South Texas College of Law. He did not receive a law degree from either institution and received his law license through self-study.

Career

Hannah served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1961. He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for the fifth district from 1967 to 1973 and worked in private practice in Lufkin from 1971 to 1973. He was a district attorney in Angelina County from 1973 to 1975 and was legal counsel to Common Cause of Texas in 1975, returning to private practice in Lufkin from 1975 to 1977. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas from 1977 to 1981 and again worked in private practice in Lufkin from 1981 to 1991. He was a secretary of state of Texas from 1991 to 1994. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Federal judicial service

On November 19, 1993, Hannah was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas created by 104 Stat. 5089. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 1994, and received his commission on March 11, 1994. He served as chief judge from 2001 to 2003.

Personal life

Hannah died suddenly of a heart attack on December 4, 2003, while attending a judicial conference in West Palm Beach, Florida. His wife, United States Magistrate Judith Guthrie was with him when he died.

Sources

• John H. Hannah Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.