Editing Jeff Sessions (section)

== Early life and early career ==
Sessions was born in [[Selma, Alabama]], on December 24, 1946,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |title=Biography of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama |website=senate.gov |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=November 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126075602/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/biography |archive-date=November 26, 2016 }}</ref> the son of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions Jr. and the former Abbie Powe.<ref name=genref1>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/sessions.htm |title=Ancestry of Jefferson Beauregard "Jeff" Sessions III |access-date=August 4, 2009 |first=Robert |last=Battle |publisher=[[Rootsweb]]  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811002405/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/sessions.htm |archive-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> Sessions, his father, and his grandfather were named after [[Jefferson Davis]], a U.S. senator and president of the [[Confederate States of America]],<ref name="nytimesapuzzojeffsessionsalifelong">{{cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |last2=LaFraniere |first2=Sharon |title=Jeff Sessions, a Lifelong Outsider, Finds the Inside Track |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/us/politics/jeff-sessions-attorney-general.html |access-date=April 26, 2017 |work=The New York Times |date=January 8, 2017 |quote=Jefferson Beauregard Sessions{{spaces}}III was named after his father, who was named after his grandfather, who was named after the Confederate president Jefferson Davis, his parents once said. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512234719/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/08/us/politics/jeff-sessions-attorney-general.html |archive-date=May 12, 2017}}</ref> and [[P. G. T. Beauregard]], a veteran of the [[Mexican–American War]] and a Confederate general who oversaw the [[Battle of Fort Sumter]] that commenced the [[American Civil War]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tullos |first1=Allen |title=Alabama Getaway: The Political Imaginary and the Heart of Dixie |date=2011 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-3961-0 |page=290 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rI7mdw8LZ4C&pg=PA290 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210081905/https://books.google.com/books?id=3rI7mdw8LZ4C&pg=PA290 |archive-date=February 10, 2018}}</ref> His father owned a [[general store]] in [[Hybart, Alabama]], and later owned a farm equipment dealership. Both Sessions's parents were primarily of [[English American|English]] descent, with some [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scots-Irish]] ancestry.<ref>[https://www.geni.com/people/Jeff-Sessions-U-S-Senator/6000000015050901729 Jeff Sessions, U.S. Senator] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617131158/https://www.geni.com/people/Jeff-Sessions-U-S-Senator/6000000015050901729 |date=June 17, 2016}} ''Geni.com''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=York |first=Byron |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-vindication-of-jeff-sessions/article/98839 |title=The Vindication of Jeff Sessions |website=Washington Examiner |date=May 31, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210081905/http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-vindication-of-jeff-sessions/article/98839 |archive-date=February 10, 2018}}</ref> In 1964, Sessions became an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], and later, he earned the [[Distinguished Eagle Scout Award]] for his many years of service.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Queenie |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national/articles/2009/07/14/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jeff-sessions |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Jeff Sessions |website=US News |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119062236/http://www.usnews.com/news/national/articles/2009/07/14/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jeff-sessions |archive-date=November 19, 2016}}</ref>

After attending [[Wilcox Central High School|Wilcox County High School]] in nearby [[Camden, Alabama|Camden]],<ref name="Judd">{{cite news |last1=Judd |first1=Alan |title=For Trump's AG nominee Jeff Sessions, race is great battle not fought |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/for-trump-nominee-jeff-sessions-race-great-battle-not-fought/9cpM4nR3NUFQTbuSPSDzXL/ |access-date=May 20, 2019 |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=February 8, 2017 |quote=At Wilcox County High School, Sessions graduated in the class of 1965. He had never attended school with a black child.}}</ref> Sessions studied at [[Huntingdon College]] in Montgomery, graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1969. He was active in the [[Young Republicans]], the marching band and was student body president.<ref name="CQPress">{{cite web |url=http://www.cqpress.com/ls/pia/pdfs/107/aljr-2000.pdf |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions |work=[[CQ's Politics in America]]: 107th Congress |date=2000 |publisher=[[CQ Press]]/Sage Publications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094234/http://www.cqpress.com/ls/pia/pdfs/107/aljr-2000.pdf|archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref> Sessions attended the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] and graduated with a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/law-jan-june09-sessions_05-26/ |title=Key Player: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. &#124; Online NewsHour |publisher=PBS |date=May 26, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116225412/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/law-jan-june09-sessions_05-26/ |archive-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref>

Sessions entered the [[Practice of law|private practice of law]] in [[Russellville, Alabama|Russellville]] and later in [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]].<ref name="BDUSC" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ruble |first1=Joe |title=Alabama Senator Sessions stumps for Trump in Florida |url=http://www.news965.com/news/news/local/alabama-senator-sessions-stumps-trump-florida/ns2Yp/ |work=News 96.5 WDBO |date=November 1, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116022546/http://www.news965.com/news/news/local/alabama-senator-sessions-stumps-trump-florida/ns2Yp/ |archive-date=November 16, 2016}}</ref> He also served in the Army Reserve in the 1970s with the rank of captain.<ref name="BDUSC">{{cite encyclopedia |title=SESSIONS, Jefferson Beauregard III (Jeff) |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s001141 |dictionary=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |access-date=May 10, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527001737/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=s001141 |archive-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>