James Barton serves as Chief Counsel to Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). James serves as the Senator's lead policy advisor on the Judiciary Committee portfolio, working on issues ranging from intellectual property to antitrust to civil rights. Prior to his government service, James worked as a litigator at WilmerHale LLP for six years, handling complex matters in the U.S. Supreme Court and other federal courts. James clerked for the Honorable Jay S. Bybee on the U.S. Court Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and for the Honorable Randolph D. Moss on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He graduated with his B.A. in history from Stanford University and with his J.D. from Stanford Law School. James is a member of the California and Washington, D.C. bars, as well as the District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

Before law school, James taught second and third grades in Oakland, CA for three years as a Teach For America corps member. James and his husband live in Washington, D.C. with their dog Caffrey.