Jennifer Coffman

Jennifer Coffman
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Current Court Information:
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
Title:	Senior Judge
Position:	Seat #2
Alternative court:	United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
Alternative term:	5/19/2011 - 5/18/2018
Service:
Appointed by:	Bill Clinton
Active:	10/1/1993 - 1/8/2013
Chief:	2007 - 2012
Senior:	1/8/2013 - Present
Preceded by:	Eugene Siler
Past post:	Western District of Kentucky
Past term:	10/1/1993 - 1/8/2013
Past position:	Seat #2
Personal History
Born:	1948
Home State:	Union City, TN
Bachelors:	U. of Kentucky, BA, 1969
Law School:	U. of Kentucky College of Law, JD, 1978
Grad. School:	U. of Kentucky, MLS, 1971

Jennifer B. Coffman is an Article III federal judge serving on senior status for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and the Eastern District of Kentucky. Coffman served as the Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 2007 to 2012. She joined both of the courts in 1993 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Coffman also serves on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Her term runs from May 19, 2011 until May 18, 2018.

On January 8, 2013, Coffman assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky after serving on the court for 19 years.

Early life and education

Born in Union City, Tennessee, Coffman attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY and graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in 1969, her Master's Degree in Library Science 1971, and her Juris Doctor Degree in 1978.

Professional career

Coffman served her entire pre-judicial legal career in private practice in Lexington, KY from 1977 to 1993. Coffman served as an Adjunct instructor for the University of Kentucky College of Law from 1979 to 1981.

Judicial career

Eastern & Western District Courts of Kentucky

On the recommendation of Senator Wendell Ford, Coffman was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky by President Bill Clinton on August 6, 1993 to a seat vacated by Eugene Siler as Siler was appointed to the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Coffman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 30, 1993 and received commission on October 1, 1993. On January 8, 2013 Jennifer Coffman assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky after serving on the court for 19 years.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

Coffman also concurrently serves on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. She was appointed on May 19, 2011 and her term would end on May 18, 2018, but she has announced her intention to retire in January 2013.

Notable firsts

Judge Coffman was the first female federal judge in Kentucky at the time of her appointment in 1993. Coffman also became the first female federal chief judge at the time of her ascension to that position in 2007.

See also

• News: Federal District Court judge Jennifer Coffman to retire, March 10, 2012

External links

• Judge Coffman's Bio from the Eastern District
• Judge Coffman's Bio from the Western District
• Kentucky.com, "U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman to retire from the bench," March 7, 2012
• Judge Jennifer Coffman's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Eugene Siler	Western District of Kentucky 2007–2013 Seat #2	Succeeded by: NA
Preceded by: Eugene Siler	Eastern District of Kentucky 2007–2013 Seat #2	Succeeded by: NA