Background
Copenhaver, John Thomas was born on September 29, 1925 in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Son of John Thomas and Ruth Cherrington (Roberts) Copenhaver.
Copenhaver, John Thomas was born on September 29, 1925 in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Son of John Thomas and Ruth Cherrington (Roberts) Copenhaver.
Bachelor of Arts, West Virginia University, 1947; Bachelor of Laws, West Virginia University, 1950.
Law clerk to presiding judge, United States District Court (southern district) West Virginia, 1950-1951;
member firm, Copenhaver & Copenhaver, Charleston, 1951-1958;
United States bankruptcy judge Southern District West Virginia, Charleston, 1958-1976;
United States district judge, since 1976. Adjunct Professor law West Virginia University College Law, 1970-1976. Member of faculty Federal Judicial Center, 1972-1976.
President Legal Aid. Society Charleston, 1954. Chairman Municipal Planning Commission City of Charleston, 1964. Chairman, president West Virginia Housing Development Fund, 1969-1972.
Chairman visiting committee West Virginia University College Law, 1980-1983. Mem.adv. commission on bankruptcy rules Judicial Conference United States, 1978-1984.
Served with United States Army, 1944-1946. Fellow American Bar Foundation. Member American Bar Association, West Virginia Bar Association, Kanawha County Bar Association, National Bankruptcy Conference, National Conference Bankruptcy Judges (past president), Phi Delta Phi, Beta Theta Pi.
Married Camille Ruth Smith, October 7, 1950. Children: John Thomas III, James Smith, Brent Paul.