John Cooper Godbold
Encyclopedia
John Cooper Godbold was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Coy, Alabama
, Godbold received a B.S.
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 J.D.
from Harvard Law School
in 1948, and was in private practice in Montgomery, Alabama
from 1948 to 1966.
On June 28, 1966, Godbold was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
vacated by Richard Taylor Rives. Godbold was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 22, 1966, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge in 1981, but on October 1, 1981, he was reassigned by operation of law
to the newly created United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
. He served as the first chief judge of that court, from 1981 to 1986, and assumed senior status
on October 23, 1987. He served as Director of the Federal Judicial Center
from 1987 to 1990, and was a professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law
of Samford University
beginning in 1990. He continued in senior status for twenty-two years, until his death, in 2009.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Coy, Alabama
Coy, Alabama
Coy is an unincorporated community in Wilcox County, Alabama, United States. Coy is located in a bend of the Alabama River and is home to several historic plantations. The most notable of these is Dry Fork Plantation, included on the National Register of Historic Places.-Geography:Coy is located...
, Godbold received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in 1940 and was a Major in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Division Artillery Headquarters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1941 to 1946. He received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1948, and was in private practice in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
from 1948 to 1966.
On June 28, 1966, Godbold was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
vacated by Richard Taylor Rives. Godbold was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 22, 1966, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge in 1981, but on October 1, 1981, he was reassigned by operation of law
Operation of law
The phrase "by operation of law" is a legal term that indicates that a right or liability has been created for a party, irrespective of the intent of that party, because it is dictated by existing legal principles. For example, if a person dies without a will, his heirs are determined by operation...
to the newly created United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
. He served as the first chief judge of that court, from 1981 to 1986, and assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on October 23, 1987. He served as Director of the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
from 1987 to 1990, and was a professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland School of Law is an ABA accredited law school at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The 11th oldest law school in the United States, it is 160 years old and has more than 11,000 graduates. Its alumni include two United States Supreme Court Justices; Nobel Peace Prize recipient...
of Samford University
Samford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
beginning in 1990. He continued in senior status for twenty-two years, until his death, in 2009.