Jennifer Coffman

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Jennifer Coffman

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Prior offices
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Education

Bachelor's

University of Kentucky, 1969

Graduate

University of Kentucky, MLS, 1971

Law

University of Kentucky College of Law, 1978

Personal
Birthplace
Union City, Tenn.


Jennifer B. Coffman was an Article III federal judge 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 served on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from May 19, 2011 until January 8, 2013.[1][2]

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 J.D. degree in 1978.[3][2]

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.[3]

Judicial nominations and appointments

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.[4] On January 8, 2013, Jennifer Coffman retired from 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.[5]

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 have ended on May 18, 2018, but she retired from federal service in January 2013.[6][2]

Notable firsts

Judge Coffman was the first female federal judge in Kentucky at the time of her appointment in 1993.[2] Coffman also became the first female federal chief judge at the time of her ascension to that position in 2007.[2]

See also

External links


Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by:
Eugene Siler
Western District of Kentucky
2007–2013
Seat #2
Succeeded by:
Claria Horn Boom
Preceded by:
Eugene Siler
Eastern District of Kentucky
2007–2013
Seat #2
Succeeded by:
Claria Horn Boom