James Burns Belford (September 28, 1837 – January 10, 1910) was a 19th-century American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Colorado.

He was appointed an associate justice of the supreme court for the Colorado Territory in 1870 and moved to Central City.

He presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-fifth Congress and served from March 4, 1877 until December 13, 1877, when he was succeeded by Thomas M. Patterson, who successfully contested the election.

"[1] In the mid-1890s he gained notoriety for successfully defending Denver conman and crime boss Soapy Smith in several cases.

[4] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress