Biography — James Bacchus (United States of America) (1995 - 2003)

James Bacchus served on the Appellate Body for two terms, from 1995 to 2003. Born in 1949, Mr. Bacchus is a citizen of the United States of America. Mr. Bacchus currently practices law with the firm of Greenberg Traurig LLP. He is also a Professor of law at Vanderbilt University Law School.

Before his appointment to the Appellate Body, he served for two terms as a Member of the Congress of the United States, from Florida, from 1991 to 1995. Previously, he served as a Special Assistant to the United States Trade Representative in the Executive Office of the President of the United States from 1979 to 1981. In addition, he has a broad experience in the private practice of public and private international law.

Mr. Bacchus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, with High Honors in History, in 1971. He received a Master of Arts degree from Yale University, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in History, in 1973. He graduated with High Honors from the Florida State University College of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the FSU Law Review, in 1978. He has received honorary doctorates from Rollins College, Sierra Nevada College, and the University of Central Florida. He has taught and lectured extensively on international law and on international trade law in the United States and elsewhere.