{ "id": "ep8k5676pv", "slug": "joseph-r-goodwin", "title": "Joseph R. Goodwin", "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-f-to-g", "label": "Surnames F to G", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-f-to-g" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-f-to-g", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames F to G", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-f-to-g", "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-f-to-g", "label": "Surnames F to G", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-f-to-g" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Joseph R. Goodwin, born 1942, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of West Virginia since 1995, appointed by President Bill Clinton.", "snippet": "Joseph R. Goodwin, born 1942, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of West Virginia since 1995, appointed by President Bill Clinton.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-f-to-g", "markdown": "# Joseph R. Goodwin\n\nJoseph Robert Goodwin (born 1942) is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia since 1995.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) He was nominated by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the Senate in 1995.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) Goodwin served as chief judge of the court from 2007 to 2012.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) |\n| Appointed by | William J. Clinton[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) |\n| Confirmed | May 8, 1995 (voice vote)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) |\n| Born | 1942 in Ripley, West Virginia[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) |\n| Education | B.S., West Virginia University, 1965; J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 1970[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nGoodwin was born in 1942 in Ripley, West Virginia.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) He received a B.S. degree from [West Virginia University](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-virginia-university) in 1965 and a J.D. degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1970.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) • [2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/02/1995-02-28-president-names-two-federal-district-judges.html)\n\n## Legal career\n\nThe Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges states that Goodwin served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps from 1965 to 1967,[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) while the White House announcement of his nomination stated that he served in the Adjutant General Corps of the U.S. Army during those years.[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/02/1995-02-28-president-names-two-federal-district-judges.html) He served as city attorney for Ripley from 1971 to 1972 and as judge of the Ripley Municipal Court from 1972 to 1973.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) Goodwin practiced law in [Charleston, West Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/charleston-west-virginia), from 1970 to 1995, practicing with the firm of Goodwin & Goodwin, where he maintained a commercial and civil litigation practice.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) • [2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/02/1995-02-28-president-names-two-federal-district-judges.html)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [Bill Clinton](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-clinton) nominated Goodwin to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on February 28, 1995.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) The White House announced the nomination on that date, alongside the nomination of [Peter C. Economus](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-c-economus) to the Northern District of Ohio.[2](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/02/1995-02-28-president-names-two-federal-district-judges.html) Goodwin was confirmed by voice vote on May 8, 1995, and received his commission on May 10, 1995.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361) He served as chief judge of the district court from 2007 to 2012.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361)\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn June 2017, Goodwin rejected a plea agreement in the case of Charles York Walker Jr., a defendant who had agreed to plead guilty to a single count of distributing heroin in exchange for prosecutors dropping five other counts, including counts involving fentanyl distribution and a firearm charge.[3](https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/americas-heroin-epidemic/judge-stuns-court-rejecting-defendant-s-plea-deal-drug-ravaged-n779786) In a 28-page order dated June 26, 2017, Goodwin wrote that [West Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-virginia) is \"ground zero\" for the opioid epidemic and that \"Here, that cultural context is a rural state deeply wounded by and suffering from a plague of heroin and opioid addiction.\"[3](https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/americas-heroin-epidemic/judge-stuns-court-rejecting-defendant-s-plea-deal-drug-ravaged-n779786) He wrote that \"The jury trial reveals the dark details of drug distribution, an abuse to the community, in a way that a plea-bargained guilty plea cannot\" and concluded, \"For the reasons stated, I REJECT the plea agreement.\"[3](https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/americas-heroin-epidemic/judge-stuns-court-rejecting-defendant-s-plea-deal-drug-ravaged-n779786) Walker's lawyer, Lex Coleman, told [NBC News](https://www.edgepedia.org/nbc-news) that the ruling was the first of its kind in his 25 years of practicing law.[3](https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/americas-heroin-epidemic/judge-stuns-court-rejecting-defendant-s-plea-deal-drug-ravaged-n779786)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Joseph Robert Goodwin](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1381361)\n2. [President Names Two Federal District Judges](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1995/02/1995-02-28-president-names-two-federal-district-judges.html)\n3. [Judge stuns court by rejecting defendant's plea deal in drug-ravaged West Virginia](https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/americas-heroin-epidemic/judge-stuns-court-rejecting-defendant-s-plea-deal-drug-ravaged-n779786)\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 F to G*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 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/joseph-r-goodwin", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin.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": "\"Joseph R. Goodwin\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Joseph R. Goodwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Joseph R. Goodwin\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/joseph-r-goodwin. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Joseph R. Goodwin, born 1942, is an American jurist serving as a United States district judge for the Southern District of West Virginia since 1995, appointed by President Bill Clinton." }