Clarence Cooper (judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clarence Cooper
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | |
| Assumed office February 9, 2009 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia | |
| In office May 9, 1994 – February 9, 2009 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Richard Cameron Freeman |
| Succeeded by | Mark Howard Cohen |
| Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals | |
| In office 1990–1994 |
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| Appointed by | Joe Frank Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 5, 1942 Decatur, Georgia, U.S. |
| Spouse | Shirley M. Elder |
| Children | Two |
| Education | Clark College (BA) Emory University (JD) Harvard University (MPA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1968–1970 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Clarence Cooper was born on May 5, 1942. He is an American lawyer and judge. He served as a very important judge for the United States in the Northern District of Georgia. He is known for his long career in law and his work in the community.
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Growing Up and Learning
Clarence Cooper was born in Decatur, Georgia. He later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he finished high school in 1960. He went to Clark College in Atlanta and earned a college degree (a Bachelor of Arts) in 1964.
He then studied law at Emory University School of Law, getting his law degree (a Juris Doctor) in 1967. He also joined a fraternity called Omega Psi Phi. Later, in 1978, he earned another advanced degree (a Master of Public Administration) from Harvard University. He also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
His Career as a Judge
Before becoming a judge, Clarence Cooper served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal.
Working in Georgia Courts
After his military service, Cooper started his law career. He worked as a lawyer for people who needed help but couldn't afford it. He also worked as a prosecutor for Fulton County, Georgia.
In 1975, Cooper became a judge for the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. He was the first African-American person to be a full-time judge on this court. He was also the first African-American to be elected as a judge for the Fulton Superior Court. From 1980 to 1990, he served as a judge on the Fulton Superior Court. Then, from 1990 to 1994, he was a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 1994, President Bill Clinton chose Clarence Cooper to be a United States District Judge. This is a very important job in the federal court system. The United States Senate approved his nomination, and he officially became a judge on May 9, 1994.
He served as a federal judge until February 9, 2009, when he took on a "senior status" role. This means he could still hear cases but with a reduced workload. In September 2021, he became an "inactive senior status" judge.
Important Cases
One notable case Judge Cooper handled involved stickers in textbooks. He ordered a school system in Atlanta to remove stickers that said the theory of evolution was "a theory, not a fact." He ruled that these stickers were like promoting a religion, which goes against the US Constitution's rule about keeping government separate from religion. This case was called Selman v. Cobb County School District.
His Family Life
Clarence Cooper is married to Shirley Cooper. Shirley was the first African-American food service coordinator for the Fulton County School System. They have two children.
Awards and Recognition
Clarence Cooper has received many awards for his outstanding work and service.
- Judge Clarence Cooper Judicial Section Award (given to judges for great service)
- Judge Clarence Cooper Legacy Award
- 2003 Hall of Fame
- 2010 Trumpet Award Honoree
- 2011 Emory History Makers
- 2022 Emory Medal
See also
