John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Former Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · Federal
- Judicial service
- Former
John Thomas Copenhaver Jr.
Former Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Service record and verification
Judicial service and assignments
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia · Judge · Former · September 3, 1976–Former
Appointment and verification
- Source authority
- CourtListener / Free Law Project
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, District Court, S.D. West Virginia, 1976-present
- John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. (1925–2026) was a distinguished U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia, serving over 68 years on the federal bench and, at his death, the last actively serving judge appointed by President Gerald Ford
- Adjunct professor, West Virginia University College of Law, 1970-1976
- Law clerk, Hon. Ben Moore, U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 1950-1951
- After law school, Copenhaver was a law clerk to Judge Benjamin F. Moore (1950–1951).
- Colleagues described him as a “judge’s judge” — measured, humble, and steadfast in the rule of law
Education
- A.B. from West Virginia University in 1947 and an LL.B. in 1950.
Additional information
- Copenhaver died May 12, 2026, in Charleston at age 100.
- Confirmed by the Senate in September 1976, he served until November 1, 2018, when he assumed senior status.
- On August 26, 1976, President Gerald Ford nominated him to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, a seat vacated by Kenneth K. Hall.
- He held the role of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (1973–1976) and was an adjunct professor at WVU College of Law and a faculty member at the Federal Judicial Center.
- Faculty member, Federal Judicial Center, 1970-1976
- Practiced law in Charleston until 1958, then became Referee in Bankruptcy for the Southern District of West Virginia (1958–1973).
- Private practice, Charleston, WV, 1951-1958
- He entered The Citadel in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army’s Americal Division from 1944–1946, rising to staff sergeant and serving as a medic in the Philippines and Japan campaigns.
- He attended Charleston schools, then the Kentucky Military Institute, graduating at 16 in 1942.
- Born September 29, 1925 in Charleston, West Virginia, Copenhaver was the son of John T. Copenhaver Sr., mayor of Charleston, and Ruth Cherrington.
- Date of birth: 1925-01-01
- Remembered for his fairness, dedication, and public service.
- Last Ford-appointed federal judge still serving.
- His career spanned more than 68 years on the federal bench, the longest in U.S. judicial history.
- He remained the last actively serving judge appointed by Ford until his death.
- Birth place: Charleston, WV
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Cell Phones And Electronic Devices
Statewide
Virginia courts commonly restrict cell phones and other electronic devices in court buildings; counsel and litigants should check the local court policy before arrival.
Most courts in Virginia do not allow you to bring a cell phone or other electronic device into the building.Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗
Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · CourtListener / Free Law Project · effective September 3, 1976 · Source checked August 2, 2026
View U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia current judicial profile ↗Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
Statewide source · HTML · Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗