Active federal judge in West Virginia turns 100

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — They say the law is worth standing up for, and one West Virginia judge has proven that to be true: with no signs of stopping any time soon.

The Honorable John T. Copenhaver Jr. has been tapping the federal gavel for 49 years, less than half his lifetime. The longtime judge turned 100 years old on Monday and is still practicing law inside the United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia.

In his career, Judge Copenhaver has worked as a clerk, private lawyer, adjunct professor for West Virginia University Law and as a federal judge. He was appointed as a federal judge by President Gerald Ford in 1976, spanning years of law and policy changes in our country.

His ties to Charleston began from his birth and stretched to his father, John Copenhaver, who served as the city’s mayor in the 1950s.

Now-Mayor Amy Goodwin has known the judge for more than 25 years and said his contributions to society deserve to be recognized.

“He is a true son and a servant of West Virginia,” Goodwin said. “For his years on the bench and prior to, his love and commitment for his family, this state, and of course his love of the law is apparent in every single thing that he does.”

Before beginning his law career, Copenhaver served in the United States Army in the 1940s and then graduated from law school at West Virginia University.

In 2018, he was granted senior status within the federal court for his service.

Goodwin said his impact continues to shape the environments around him and beyond.

“What Judge Copenhaver has done, not only for Charleston, the state of West Virginia, but this country, is truly remarkable,” she said. “Certainly, he is a man that should be celebrated, especially on his birthday.”