JUDGE COPENHAVER HONORED

       U.S. District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. was selected to receive the prestigious 2018 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was presented with the award by Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory at the Fourth Circuit Annual Judicial Conference in late June at The Greenbrier Resort.

      According to the official news release from the American Inns of Court, Judge Copenhaver has served on the bench for 60 years, “entering hundreds of opinions there and by designation on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He also presided for more than 30 years over naturalization ceremonies in the district.”  

       He served as President of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and played an instrumental role in the passage of the important Bankruptcy Reform Act. The Judge also was a member of the U.S. Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules. 

       He earned his J.D. degree at the WVU College of Law where there is an endowed chair in his name established by the Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation. In service to his state and his community, Judge Copenhaver has been the Chair of the WV Housing Development Fund and the President of the Charleston Municipal Planning Commission. He is an Emeritus Member of the Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court and a Bar Foundation Fellow.

       Congratulations to Judge Copenhaver for this richly deserved Professionalism Award!     

       The WV Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors invites members of the judiciary, the legal profession and the general public to attend the 8th Lunch and Laughs With A Legal Legend on Friday, September 7, 2017, at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown, beginning at 11:30 AM, where the honored guest will be WV Supreme Court Senior Status Justice Larry Starcher.

       Lunch and Laughs events are not to be missed. Three “roasters” will have the opportunity to tell stories and tales about the Justice, and they are WV Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Workman, well known and well respected attorney Al Karlin (Morgantown)and retired WV Supreme Court Law Clerk Tom Rodd (Moatsville). The proceeds from the Lunch will be divided between the Justice’s choices of student legal clinics at the WVU College of Law and the J.R. Clifford Minority Scholarship, as well as for Bar Foundation grants.

       Sponsorships of $2,000 are provided a reserved table with 10 seats. Individual tickets can be purchased for $60. A majority of the amount is tax deductible. Please contact the Bar Foundation to make reservations—  tom@wvbarfoundation.org —– 304-343-9823—P. O. 4845, Charleston, WV 25364.

       A Good Time for a Good Cause!

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     The Bar Foundation’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30. During the Bar Foundation’s Board meeting in early June, then President Ken Gray provided the following highlights for the 2017-18 fiscal year:

       * The selection of the Bar Foundation to receive the prestigious NCBF-Lexis Nexis Partnership Award last August during the ABA Annual Meeting.

       * The Lunch and Laughs with WVU Provost Joyce McConnell as the honoree, in September, 2017—the seven annual events thus far have generated more than $67,000 for law student scholarships.

       * The Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner in April with the induction of sixteen judges and lawyers.
* The highly rated Lawyer Leadership Institute with 11 diverse newer lawyers learning leadership skills.

       * The provision of $36,000 in Bar Foundation grants.

       * A clean financial audit.

       * The important growth of the Justice Fund to more than $700,00 with the culmination of the fundraising campaign in December, 2017.

       * The beneficial involvement of the Board members in all aspects of governance.