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 (born May 5, 1942) is an American lawyer and judge. He serves as a senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Georgia. This means he handles important legal cases in that area.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Clarence Cooper was born in Decatur, Georgia. He finished Trinity High School in 1960. He then went to Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, and earned a bachelor's degree in 1964.
He continued his studies at Emory University School of Law, where he earned his law degree (called a Juris Doctor) in 1967. Later, in 1978, he earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. He also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Career Highlights
Judge Cooper has had a long and important career. He served in the military and held several judicial positions.
Military Service
From 1968 to 1970, Judge Cooper served in the United States Army. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He received several awards for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal. This medal is given for bravery or good service in a combat zone. He also received the Vietnam Service Medal for his time during the Vietnam War.
State Judicial Service
After his military service, Cooper worked as a lawyer for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society in 1967. He also served as an assistant district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia. This role meant he helped prosecute crimes.
In 1975, Cooper became a judge on the City of Atlanta Municipal Court. He was the first African-American person to be appointed as a full-time judge on this court. He was also the first African-American person elected to a county-wide judgeship on the Fulton Superior Court. In 1968, he was the first African-American assistant district attorney hired in a state prosecutor's office in Georgia.
From 1980 to 1990, he was a judge on the Fulton Superior Court in Georgia. He then served as a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals from 1990 to 1994.
Federal Judicial Service
In 1994, President Bill Clinton nominated Clarence Cooper to become a United States District Judge. This is a very important role in the federal court system. The United States Senate approved his nomination, and he officially became a judge on May 9, 1994.
In 2009, he took on "senior status." This means a judge can reduce their workload but still hear cases. In 2021, he moved to inactive senior status.
Important Cases
Judge Cooper has presided over many significant cases during his time on the bench.
Evolution Sticker Case
One notable case involved stickers placed on science textbooks in an Atlanta school system. These stickers said that the theory of evolution was "a theory, not a fact." Judge Cooper ordered the school system to remove these stickers. He ruled that putting these stickers in textbooks was like the government supporting a certain religious view. This goes against the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution, which keeps government and religion separate.
Georgia Law Challenge
Judge Cooper also handled a case challenging a Georgia law. This law set rules about where certain people could live or work near places where children gather. In 2006, he issued an order to temporarily stop parts of the law from being enforced. He also allowed a large group of people to join the lawsuit together.
Personal Life
Clarence Cooper is married to Shirley Cooper. Shirley Cooper was the first Black food service coordinator for the Fulton County School System. Judge Cooper and his wife have two children.
Awards and Honors
Judge Cooper has received many awards for his service and contributions.
Namesake Awards
- Judge Clarence Cooper Judicial Section Award: This award honors judges who show outstanding service to the legal system and their community.
- Judge Clarence Cooper Legacy Award: This award celebrates his lasting impact.
Other Recognitions
- 2003 Hall of Fame
- 2010 Trumpet Award Honoree
- 2011 Emory History Makers
- 2022 Emory Medal
See also
