Supreme Court’s Bunn remembers appearances before Copenhaver – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Supreme Court Chief Justice Haley Bunn appeared before U.S. District Judge John Copenhaver many times during her career as an assistant U.S. Attorney.

“I’ll remember the warm regard for how much care he took for practitioners, litigants, juries, he was so amazing with a jury, and just fond memories of the wonderful times I had in his courtroom,” Bunn said.

Copenhaver was remembered in a funeral service Wednesday morning in Charleston. He died last week at the age of 100.

Copenhaver was known for his detailed decisions. Bunn said during a recent appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” that thoroughness was a comfort to a prosecutor.

“His overturn rate was about two percent which is unprecedented over his decades on the bench,” Bunn said. “He covered every base. He made sure that every nook and cranny was addressed. It made you feel almost safe in front of him as a practitioner, you knew it was going to be right whatever the outcome.”

Copenhaver swore-in Bunn to her 12-year term on the Supreme Court on Dec. 30, 2024.

Copenhaver was appointed as a bankruptcy referee in 1958. President Gerald Ford nominated him to the federal bench in late August 1976, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate five days later. His time on the bench was just short of 50 years. He took senior status in 2018 but still carried a full caseload.

Bunn said she’ll take several things from Copenhaver’s life and career.

“To take absolute pride in your work, to do your absolute very best with every case, every case is important and every person involved in those cases is important,” Bunn said. “But while you’re doing your job and taking pride in your work you’re also being gracious to people in front of you.”