James Stuart Holden (January 29, 1914 – November 18, 1996) was an American attorney and judge.

Born in Bennington, Vermont, Holden received an AB degree from Dartmouth College in 1935 and an LL.B.

Holden was in the United States Army during World War II, serving from 1941 to 1945, achieving the rank of major while serving in the Pacific Theater as a member of the 43rd Infantry Division's 172nd Infantry Regiment.

He remained in the military after the war, and was executive officer of the Vermont Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment until resigning in 1948.

In 1949, he was appointed inspector general of the National Guard's 43rd Infantry Division and promoted to lieutenant colonel.