John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. | |
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| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia | |
| Assumed office November 1, 2018 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia | |
| In office September 3, 1976 – November 1, 2018 | |
| Appointed by | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Keller Hall |
| Succeeded by | Frank W. Volk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1925-09-29)September 29, 1925 (age 100) |
| Parents |
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| Education | The Citadel;West Virginia University (AB,LLB) |
John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. (born September 29, 1925) is aseniorUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Copenhaver is the last actively serving district judge appointed by PresidentGerald Ford.
Copenhaver was born inCharleston, West Virginia on September 29, 1925.[1] His father, John T. Copenhaver, Sr. was mayor ofCharleston, West Virginia and twice a Republican candidate for governor of the state. According to theCharleston Gazette-Mail, his father "was known as 'Jumping John' for his colorful and sometimes controversial behavior."[2] His mother was Ruth Cherrington.[1] He attendedThe Citadel from 1942 to 1944.[1] He received anArtium Baccalaureus degree fromWest Virginia University in 1947 and aLegum Baccalaureus degree fromWest Virginia University College of Law in 1950. He was in theUnited States Army from 1944 to 1946, rising to the rank ofstaff sergeant.[1]
After law school, he became alaw clerk to JudgeBen Moore of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia from 1950 to 1951. He was in private practice in Charleston from 1951 to 1958, and areferee inbankruptcy for the Southern District of West Virginia from 1958 to 1973. Copenhaver was both an adjunct professor at the West Virginia University College of Law and a faculty member of theFederal Judicial Center from 1970 to 1976, and aUnited States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia from 1973 to 1976.[3]
Copenhaver was nominated by PresidentGerald Ford on August 26, 1976 to be a federal judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, to a seat vacated by JudgeKenneth Keller Hall. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on September 1, 1976, and received his commission on September 3, 1976. He assumedsenior status on November 1, 2018.[3]
Copenhaverturned 100 on September 29, 2025, and continues to practice law in the District Court.[4]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia 1976–2018 | Succeeded by |