John Peter Barnes

Who was John Peter Barnes?

John Peter Barnes was a United States federal judge.

Born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Barnes received a B.S. from Geneva College in 1904 and an LL.B. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1907. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1907 to 1913. He was a first assistant county attorney of Cook County, Illinois from 1913 to 1914, thereafter returning to his private practice until 1931.

On February 26, 1931, Barnes was nominated by President Herbert Hoover to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois created by 46 Stat. 1417. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 1931, and received his commission on March 4, 1931. He served as chief judge from 1948 to 1957, assuming senior status on September 15, 1957, and resigning the bench altogether on December 31, 1958.

Barnes was also a basset hound breeder, and was co-owner of Barook Kennels from 1957 until his death, in 1959, in Elgin, Illinois.