James Byron Reed (January 2, 1881 – April 27, 1935) was a U.S. Representative from Arkansas' former 6th congressional district. Born near Lonoke, Arkansas, Reed attended the rural schools of his county and Hendrix College, a Methodist institution in Conway, Arkansas. In 1906, he graduated from the law department of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and was admitted to the bar that same year. A lawyer in private practice, he was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives in the 1907 session. From 1912 to 1916, Reed he was the prosecuting attorney of the 17th Judicial District Court.