Joseph Martin Hood, January 28, 2019
Description
Joseph M. Hood is a Senior Judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
In this oral history, Judge Hood discusses his path from a childhood in Ashland, Kentucky to confirmation to the Eastern District bench. He describes his military service during the Vietnam War, clerkship for Judge H. David Hermansdorfer, and his role as a federal magistrate. The oral history concludes with a discussion of his early years as a federal judge.
Born in Ashland in 1942, Judge Hood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1965 and his law degree from UK College of Law in 1972. Following law school, he clerked for District Court Judge Hermansdorfer. When a new magistrate position opened on the Court, the federal judges on the bench selected him to fill the seat. He served in the role until 1990, when President George H. W. Bush nominated him to serve as a judge for the Eastern District Court, to a seat vacated by Judge Scott Reed. The Senate confirmed his nomination on April 27, 1990. Hood served as chief judge from 2005 to 2007, until he assumed senior status on October 14, 2007.
In this oral history, Judge Hood discusses his path from a childhood in Ashland, Kentucky to confirmation to the Eastern District bench. He describes his military service during the Vietnam War, clerkship for Judge H. David Hermansdorfer, and his role as a federal magistrate. The oral history concludes with a discussion of his early years as a federal judge.
Born in Ashland in 1942, Judge Hood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1965 and his law degree from UK College of Law in 1972. Following law school, he clerked for District Court Judge Hermansdorfer. When a new magistrate position opened on the Court, the federal judges on the bench selected him to fill the seat. He served in the role until 1990, when President George H. W. Bush nominated him to serve as a judge for the Eastern District Court, to a seat vacated by Judge Scott Reed. The Senate confirmed his nomination on April 27, 1990. Hood served as chief judge from 2005 to 2007, until he assumed senior status on October 14, 2007.
Date
2019-01-28
Interviewer
Anu Kasarabada
Interviewee
Joseph Martin Hood
Interview Keyword
Black lung cases
Criminal cases
Judge Hermansdorfer
Judicial nominations
Judicial reforms
Magistrate judges
Military service
Rights
Property rights reside with the University of Kentucky. For information about permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the University of Kentucky Libraries, Special Collections Research Center.
Citation
Joseph Martin Hood, January 28, 2019, John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
