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 "excerpt": "John D. Rainey, born 1945, is a senior United States district judge of the Southern District of Texas, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.",
 "snippet": "John D. Rainey, born 1945, is a senior United States district judge of the Southern District of Texas, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.",
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 "markdown": "# John D. Rainey\n\nJohn [David Rainey](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-rainey) (born 1945) is an American jurist and a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, serving in that court from 1990 and on senior status since 2010.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | George H.W. Bush<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | May 11, 1990, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n| Senior status | June 11, 2010<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n| Born | 1945 in Freeport, Texas<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n| Education | B.B.A., Southern Methodist University, 1967; J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law), 1972<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nRainey was born in 1945 in Freeport, Texas.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Business Administration](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-business-administration) from [Southern Methodist University](https://www.edgepedia.org/southern-methodist-university) in 1967 and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from Southern Methodist University School of Law, now the Dedman School of Law, in 1972.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nRainey served in the [United States Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-army) from 1969 to 1970.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> He was in private practice in Dallas, Texas, from 1973 to 1979, and then in private practice in Angleton, Texas, from 1979 to 1986.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> While practicing in Angleton, he served as a director of the Angleton Chamber of Commerce from 1983 to 1987.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> He was a judge of the Brazoria County One Hundred and Forty-Ninth District Court in Texas from 1987 to 1990.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident George H.W. Bush nominated Rainey on January 24, 1990, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup> He was confirmed by voice vote on May 11, 1990, received his commission on May 14, 1990, and began serving in the Houston Division, where a general order of the court placed his name in the random draw of civil and criminal cases effective June 1, 1990, as part of the equalization of the district's civil docket.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/sites/txs/files/general-orders/1990-18.pdf)</sup> He assumed senior status on June 11, 2010.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: John David Rainey](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386681)\n2. [General Order No. 1990-18, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/sites/txs/files/general-orders/1990-18.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Q to Sc*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"John D. Rainey\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/john-d-rainey. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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 "speakable": "John D. Rainey, born 1945, is a senior United States district judge of the Southern District of Texas, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990."
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