John Cooper Godbold

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John Cooper Godbold (March 24, 1920 – December 22, 2009) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

John Cooper Godbold
Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office
October 23, 1987 – December 22, 2009
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office
October 1, 1981 – September 3, 1986
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byPaul Hitch Roney
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
In office
October 1, 1981 – October 23, 1987
Appointed byoperation of law
Preceded bySeat established by 94 Stat. 1994
Succeeded byEmmett Ripley Cox
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office
February 2, 1981 – October 1, 1981
Preceded byJames P. Coleman
Succeeded byCharles Clark
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office
July 22, 1966 – October 1, 1981
Appointed byLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byRichard Rives
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
John Cooper Godbold

(1920-03-04)March 4, 1920
Coy, Alabama
DiedDecember 22, 2009(2009-12-22) (aged 89)
Montgomery, Alabama
EducationAuburn University (BS)
Harvard Law School (JD)

Education and career

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Born in Coy, Alabama, Godbold received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in 1940 and was a Major in the United States Army, Division Artillery Headquarters during World War II, from 1941 to 1946. He received a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1948, and was in private practice in Montgomery, Alabama from 1948 to 1966.[1]

Federal judicial service

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Godbold was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on June 28, 1966, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated by Judge Richard Rives. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 22, 1966, and received his commission the same day. He served as a board member of the Federal Judicial Center from 1976 to 1981. He served as Chief Judge from February 2, 1981, until he was reassigned by operation of law to the newly formed United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on October 1, 1981.[2] He then served as its Chief Judge until September 3, 1986, when he stepped down several days before Judge Paul Hitch Roney's eligibility for the chief judgeship was set to expire.[3] He assumed senior status on October 23, 1987. He was Director of the Federal Judicial Center from 1987 to 1990. His service terminated on December 22, 2009, due to his death in Montgomery.[1]

Other service

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Concurrent with his federal judicial service, Godbold was a professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University from 1990 until his death.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c John Cooper Godbold at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ "Montgomerian new chief of U.S. appeals court". The Montgomery Advertiser. January 30, 1981.
  3. ^ "Godbold steps down as chief judge of 11th Circuit". The Atlanta Constitution. September 4, 1986.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
1966–1981
Succeeded by
Seat abolished
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
1981
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Seat established by 94 Stat. 1994
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
1981–1987
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Office established
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
1981–1986
Succeeded by