{ "id": "ep73ab1fne", "slug": "john-a-woodcock-jr", "title": "John A. Woodcock, Jr.", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo", "label": "Surnames T to Wo", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames T to Wo", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo", "label": "Surnames T to Wo", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo" } ] } ], "excerpt": "John A. Woodcock, Jr. (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maine, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003.", "snippet": "John A. Woodcock, Jr. (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maine, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-t-to-wo", "markdown": "# John A. Woodcock, Jr.\n\nJohn A. Woodcock, Jr. (born 1950) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and took office in 2003.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) He served as chief judge of the court from 2009 to 2015 and assumed senior status on June 27, 2017.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Maine[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n| Appointed by | George W. Bush[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n| Confirmed | June 12, 2003 (voice vote)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n| Senior status | June 27, 2017[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n| Born | 1950 in Bangor, Maine[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n| Education | B.A., Bowdoin College, 1972; M.A., London School of Economics and Political Science, 1973; J.D., University of Maine School of Law, 1976[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nWoodcock was born in 1950 in [Bangor, Maine](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangor-maine).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) A Bangor native, he attended John Bapst High School in downtown Bangor.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm) He earned a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) from [Bowdoin College](https://www.edgepedia.org/bowdoin-college) in 1972, a Master of Arts from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1973, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law in 1976.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881)\n\n## Legal career\n\nWoodcock entered private practice in Maine in 1976 and practiced in Bangor for more than two decades before joining the bench.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) From 1977 to 1978, he served part-time as an assistant district attorney for the State of Maine.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) In 1991, he joined several colleagues to form the Bangor law firm of Weatherbee, Woodcock, Burlock & Woodcock.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm) During his career as a civil litigator, he served as lead counsel in appeals before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm) He also served on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's Advisory Committee on Professional Responsibility, where he worked on drafting aspirational goals to guide lawyers who advertise their professional services.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [George W. Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-w-bush) nominated Woodcock to the United States District Court for the District of Maine on March 27, 2003.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) Senator Susan Collins introduced his nomination on the Senate floor, and Senator Olympia Snowe also spoke in support of his confirmation.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm) The Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported his nomination to the full Senate on June 5, 2003.[2](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm) Woodcock was confirmed by voice vote on June 12, 2003, and received his commission on June 16, 2003.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) His appointment filled the vacancy created when Judge Gene Carter assumed senior status.[3](https://www.med.uscourts.gov/district-judges)\n\nWoodcock served as chief judge of the District of Maine from 2009 to 2015.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881) He assumed senior status on June 27, 2017.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: John A. Woodcock, Jr.](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391881)\n2. [Congressional Record, June 12, 2003: Nomination of John Woodcock to be United States District Judge](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-06-12/html/CREC-2003-06-12-pt1-PgS7820.htm)\n3. [District of Maine, District Judges](https://www.med.uscourts.gov/district-judges)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames T to Wo*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"John A. Woodcock, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[John A. Woodcock, Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"John A. Woodcock, Jr.\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/john-a-woodcock-jr. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "John A. Woodcock, Jr. is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge for the District of Maine, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003." }