| J. Ward Carver | |
| Office1: | Vermont Attorney General |
| Term Start1: | 1925 |
| Term End1: | 1931 |
| Predecessor1: | Frank C. Archibald |
| Successor1: | Lawrence C. Jones |
| Office2: | President of the Vermont Bar Association |
| Term Start2: | 1935 |
| Term End2: | 1936 |
| Predecessor2: | Collins M. Graves |
| Successor2: | Charles F. Black |
| Office3: | Member of the Vermont Senate |
| Term Start3: | 1915 |
| Term End3: | 1917 |
| Predecessor3: | Elber B. House, Fred L. Laird, George W. Wallace |
| Successor3: | Frank C. Bancroft, Bertrand R. Demeritt, Fred E. Steele |
| Alongside3: | Heber C. Cady, Orlando L. Martin |
| Constituency3: | Washington County |
| Office4: | State's Attorney of Washington County, Vermont |
| Term Start4: | 1910 |
| Term End4: | 1915 |
| Predecessor4: | Benjamin Gates |
| Successor4: | Fred E. Gleason |
| Birth Date: | 19 February 1881 |
| Birth Place: | Calais, Vermont, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Barre, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Elmwood Cemetery, Barre, Vermont, U.S. |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Zoe H. Towers (m. 1011) |
| Education: | Goddard Seminary |
| Profession: | Attorney |
Jay Ward Carver (February 19, 1881 – July 22, 1942) was a Vermont lawyer who served as state Attorney General.
J. Ward Carver was born in Calais, Vermont on February 19, 1881. He was raised in Marshfield, graduated from Montpelier High School, and then graduated from Goddard Seminary in 1900.[1]
While teaching school Carver studied law with Barre attorney John W. Gordon, was admitted to the bar in 1905, and practiced in Barre. A Republican, he served as Barre's corporation counsel, State's Attorney for Washington County, and a member of the Vermont State Senate.[2] [3]
In 1925 Carver was appointed Vermont Attorney General, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Frank C. Archibald. Carver was elected to full terms in 1926 and 1928, and served from 1925 to 1931.[4] [5]
In the 1930s Carver practiced law in partnership with Stanley C. Wilson, F. Ray Keyser Sr., and Deane C. Davis. Their firm was described as Vermont's "best ever collection of legal talent," in that it included one Vermont Supreme Court Justice (Keyser), two Governors (Wilson and Davis), and one state Attorney General (Carver).[6]
From 1935 to 1936 Carver served as president of the Vermont Bar Association.[7]
Carver died in Barre on July 22, 1942, aged 61.[8] He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Barre.
In 1911, Carver married Zoe H. Towers of Richmond, Vermont.