James J. Craven Jr.

James J. Craven Jr. (March 24, 1919 – June 6, 1991) was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 12th Suffolk District (includes parts of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale) starting in 1957. Craven was found guilty the state's conflict-of-interest law (Sections 2(b), 6, and 23(d) of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268A). Upon appeal, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) affirmed they lower court’s decision in Craven’s case against the State Ethics Commission.

Craven, a resident of Jamaica Plain, was unseated in the November 1984 elections. Two major reasons he lost the election was the conflict of interest finding discussed below but also a December 1983 House reprimand for violating the legislature's code of ethics. After he lost the election, he had been named to a $55,000 staff job with the House Rules Committee by former speaker Thomas W. McGee. Even though he had only been in the position a few days, it allowed his pension to be increased by $18,000 per annum. House Speaker George Keverian blocked the increase.

He is also known for playing a lead role in the Doyle-Flynn Bill, passed in 1978, which prohibited using Medicaid funds being used for abortions, until it was overturned in 1981.