James K Weeks, of Fayetteville, NY passed away on July 7, 2017 at home surrounded by his family.  Jim was born July 19, 1934 in Aberdeen, South Dakota to the late I.D. and Virginia (Shawkey) Weeks.  A scholar from a young age, Jim was always at the top of his class and had a lifelong love affair with reading and history.  He started his college studies at home, earning his Undergraduate and Law Degrees at the University of South Dakota, where his father served as President.  He first practiced law in Sioux Falls before moving to Colorado State University where he started his teaching career.  Jim was then awarded a Ford Fellowship to New York University, where he earned an additional post graduate law degree. He then accepted a professorship at Cleveland-Marshall Law School in Cleveland, OH.  Shortly after he accepted a position as a Law Professor at Syracuse University, where he went on to teach for over 40 years.  He introduced several new courses to the Law School Curriculum including his favorite, Trial Practice.  He spent 9 years as Director of the Criminal Law Clinic.  He started and ran for 7 years the SU College of Law’s Summer Program in Amsterdam, The Netherlands where he met his wife Nanda. He also started SU Law’s internship program with law firms in London, England.  Jim started SU’s intercollegiate mock trial team which went on to win the National Trophy in Washington, DC. The majority of the local Syracuse judiciary was made up of his former students and one of his students even became Vice President (Joe Biden).  In addition, Jim attended the University of London and The Academy of Law in Den Hague, The Netherlands.  With his international orientation, he served as a consultant to the US Bureau of Customs.   Through the years he also maintained his own private law practice.  Jim loved the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and fishing with his family.  He travelled extensively in the US and Europe.  Jim enjoyed spending summer vacations with his family at Lake Umbagog, NH and in later years on Martha’s Vineyard. 
     Surviving are his wife Nanda (Francken), of Fayetteville; son, David (Nora) of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters, Kendra Weeks of Santa Fe, NM, and Claire (Mark) Conroy of Syracuse; beloved granddaughters, Olivia, Mackenzie, and Vivien; brother, Robert (MJ) of Chapel Hill, NC.
     Relatives and friends may call Monday, July 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Eaton Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E Genesee St, Fayetteville, NY 13066.  Services are private.
    The family would like to give a special thanks to the Hospice of CNY for the comfort and care they provided Jim and his family during the final weeks of life. 
Contributions may be made to Hospice of CNY, 990 Seventh North St., Liverpool, NY 13088