Southern District of West Virginia / Appointed 1976 / Active
John Thomas Copenhaver Jr.
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1976 and confirmed by voice vote, John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. is a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He earned a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law in 1950. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, September 1, 1976
- Appointed by
- Gerald Ford, 1976
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- West Virginia 1947 · West Virginia College of Law 1950
- Succeeded
- Kenneth Keller Hall
- Succeeded by
- Frank William Volk
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Southern District of West Virginia · succeeded Kenneth Keller Hall | Ford (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| West Virginia University | A.B. | 1947 |
| West Virginia University College of Law | LL.B. | 1950 |
Sources
49 years on the Southern District of West Virginia. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).