| John Louis Coffey | |
| Office: | Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit |
| Term Start: | July 2, 2004 |
| Term End: | November 10, 2012 |
| Office1: | Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit |
| Term Start1: | March 19, 1982 |
| Term End1: | July 2, 2004 |
| Appointer1: | Ronald Reagan |
| Predecessor1: | Thomas E. Fairchild |
| Successor1: | Diane S. Sykes |
| Office2: | Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court |
| Term Start2: | August 1, 1978 |
| Term End2: | March 25, 1982 |
| Predecessor2: | Leo B. Hanley |
| Successor2: | Louis J. Ceci |
| Office3: | Wisconsin Circuit Judge for the |
| Term Start3: | January 1, 1962 |
| Term End3: | July 31, 1978 |
| Predecessor3: | Branch established |
| Successor3: | Circuit abolished |
| Birth Name: | John Louis Coffey |
| Birth Date: | 15 April 1922 |
| Birth Place: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Death Place: | Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Restingplace: | Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum, |
| Education: | Marquette University (BA, JD) |
| Profession: | Lawyer, jurist |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1943 - 1946 |
| Battles: | World War II |
John Louis Coffey (April 15, 1922November 10, 2012) was an American lawyer and jurist from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He served as a judge of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals from 1982 until his death, taking senior status in 2004. Prior to his federal appointment, he served four years as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and 16 years as a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County.
Coffey was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from the Marquette University High School in 1939. Coffey received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 1943 and was in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946. He received a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 1948. He was an assistant city attorney for the city of Milwaukee from 1949 to 1954.[1]
He was a judge for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, first as a Civil Court judge from 1954 to 1960, then a Municipal Court judge from 1960 to 1962, and then as a Circuit Court judge, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin from 1962 to 1978. He was the senior judge of the Criminal Division from 1972 to 1975, and chief presiding judge of the Criminal Division in 1976, switching to the civil division from 1976 to 1978. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1978 to 1982.[2]
On February 19, 1982, Coffey was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Thomas E. Fairchild. Coffey was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 1982, and received his commission the following day. He assumed senior status on July 2, 2004, and took inactive senior status on January 1, 2012. He died, aged 90, on November 10, 2012.[3]
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