John Stokes (North Carolina judge)

Born on March 20, 1756, in the Colony of Virginia, British America, Stokes served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, from 1778 to 1783. He was a state's attorney for Rowan County, North Carolina in 1784. He was a teacher of law in Rowan County from 1784 to 1785. He was a member of the North Carolina Senate from Montgomery County from 1786 to 1787. He was in private practice in Rowan County starting in 1787. He was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons (now the North Carolina House of Representatives) in 1789. He was a member of the North Carolina convention to ratify the United States Constitution in 1789, which was ultimately ratified by a subsequent convention in 1790.[1]

Stokes was nominated by President George Washington on August 2, 1790, to the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 126. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 3, 1790, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on October 12, 1790, due to his death.[1]

Stokes County, North Carolina is named for Stokes.

• John Stokes at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.