Jennifer B. Coffman

Jennifer B. Coffman


Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
In office 2007–2012
Preceded by	Joseph Martin Hood
Succeeded by	Karen K. Caldwell
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
In office October 1, 1993 – January 8, 2013
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Eugene E. Siler, Jr.

Personal details
Born	1948 (age 68–69) Union City, Tennessee
Education	University of Kentucky B.A., M.S. University of Kentucky College of Law J.D.

Jennifer B. Coffman (born 1948) is a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Born in Union City, Tennessee, Coffman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 1969, a Master of Science from the same institution in 1971, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1978. She was in private practice in Lexington, Kentucky from 1977 to 1993, also teaching as an adjunct instructor at the University of Kentucky College of Law from 1979 to 1981.

On August 6, 1993, Coffman was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a joint appointment to both the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, on which she has served as the Chief Judge since 2007, and also for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, both vacated by Eugene E. Siler, Jr.. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 30, 1993, and received her commission on October 1, 1993. She simultaneously served a 2011 to 2018 term on the secret FISA Court until retiring early, effective on January 8, 2013, from both courts. She was the first female judge appointed to the Federal courts in Kentucky.