John C. Coughenour
John C. Coughenour | |
---|---|
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
Assumed office July 27, 2006 | |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
In office 1997–2004 | |
Preceded by | Carolyn R. Dimmick |
Succeeded by | Robert S. Lasnik |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | |
In office September 28, 1981 – July 27, 2006 | |
Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Morell Edward Sharp |
Succeeded by | Richard A. Jones |
Personal details | |
Born | John C. Coughenour 1941 (age 82–83) Pittsburg, Kansas |
Education | Pittsburg State University (BS) University of Iowa (JD) |
John C. Coughenour (born 1941) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.[1] Before being appointed as a judge, Coughenour was a leading litigator with Bogle and Gates and has taught trial and appellate practice at the University of Washington School of Law.[2]
Education and career
Coughenour was born in
Federal judicial service
Coughenour was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on August 11, 1981, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington vacated by Judge Morell Edward Sharp. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 25, 1981, and received commission on September 28, 1981. He served as Chief Judge from 1997 to 2004. He assumed senior status on July 27, 2006.[3]
Coughenour testified before the
Coughenour has opposed federal mandatory minimum sentences for a variety of crimes. He also frequently visited individuals in prison to better understand the system and effects of mandatory minimums.[7]
Notable cases
Sexual Predator Law
In 1995 Coughenour found Washington State's Sexually Violent Predator Law to be "criminal in nature".[8] He ruled the law
Amhed Ressam case
Coughenour was the judge who first sentenced Ahmed Ressam, the "millennium bomber", who planned to blow up the Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve 1999.[9]
Coughenour wrote an
- Reversal, and remand to different judge
On July 27, 2005, Coughenour sentenced Ressam to 22 years in prison, plus 5 years of supervision after his release.
Jason Scott Case
In 1995, Coughenour also presided over the civil trial of the
See also
References
- ^ "'Millennium' terror plotter recants claims against Guantanamo detainee". International Herald Tribune. January 5, 2007. Retrieved January 6, 2007.
- ^ "John Coughenour". Retrieved October 23, 2008.
- ^ a b "Coughenour, John C. - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
- United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Archived from the originalon October 14, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
We also welcome Judge John Coughenour. He is a respected judge who has significant experience with terrorism cases, having presided over the trial of the so-called "millennium bomber" Ahmed Ressam. He speaks with authority on the capacity of our constitutional system to handle new challenges.
- United States Senate Judiciary Committee. Archived from the originalon October 14, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ^ Van Meter, Matthew (February 25, 2016). "One Judge Makes the Case for Judgment". The Atlantic. No. February 25, 2016.
- ^
Roxanne Lieb. "Washington's Sexually Violent Predator Law: Legislative History and Comparisons With Other State" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
Because the sexual predator law authorizes civil commitment of persons following a prison term, it has faced several constitutional challenges. The Washington State Supreme Court found the law constitutional in 1993. In 1995, U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour found the statute to be criminal in nature and thus in violation of constitutional protections against ex post facto laws and double jeopardy. This ruling has been appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
- ^ a b c John C. Coughenour (November 1, 2007). "How to Try a Terrorist". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2007.
- ^ Bernton, Hal; Green, Sara Jean (July 28, 2005). "Ressam judge decries U.S. tactics". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "'Millennium bomber' sentence overturned; feds seek longer one - CNN.com". CNN. February 2, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
- ^ "U.S. v. Ressam, 679 F.3d 1069 (9th Cir. 2012)" (PDF).
- ^ Bjorhus, Jennifer (September 30, 1995). "Man Wins $5 Million In Deprogramming Suit – Mother Had Tried To Wrest Son Away From Bellevue Church". The Seattle Times.
External links
- Resumé
- John C. Coughenour at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.