Preceded by Nicholas Fitzhugh | Succeeded by Seat abolished Name James Morsell | |
Political party Democratic-Republican Party | ||
James Sewall Morsell (January 10, 1775 – January 11, 1870) was a United States federal judge.
Born in Calvert County, Maryland, Morsell was in the United States Army from 1813 to 1814, and had a private legal practice in Georgetown, District of Columbia until 1815. He represented a number of African American families who petitioned for their freedom before the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia.
On January 7, 1815, Morsell was nominated by President James Madison to a seat on the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia vacated by Nicholas Fitzhugh. Morsell was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 11, 1815, and received his commission the same day. Morsell served unto March 3, 1863, when his judgeship was eliminated due to abolition of the court. His 48 year tenure is among the longest among all United States federal judges.
Morsell died in Prince George's County, Maryland at the age of 95.