A resident of New Orleans, LA, James is an Assistant United States Attorney at the Eastern District of Louisiana, after clerking for Judge Edith Brown Clement on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He previously served as a judge advocate in the United States Marine Corps, stationed as a defense counsel in Camp Pendleton, CA. He presently serves in the reserves with 4th Civil Affairs Group. He holds a J.D. and M.A. from the University of Virginia, and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. He is especially interested in criminal justice and legal philosophy.