James Thompson (October 1, 1806 – January 28, 1874) was a lawyer, politician and jurist from Pennsylvania.

He served in the United States Congress and in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he was Speaker in 1835.

He also served as a federal judge and as a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Thompson was born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania on October 1, 1806.

He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1838, and the presiding judge of the sixth judicial district court from 1838 until 1844, when he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives.