Died January 17, 2025, in Lincoln, NE
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska 1987-1992
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on April 7, 1992, to a seat vacated by Warren K. Urbom. Confirmed by the Senate on May 21, 1992, and received commission on May 26, 1992. Served as chief judge, 1999-2004. Assumed senior status, December 1, 2011. Member, Committee on Codes of Conduct, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2006-2012. Assumed inactive senior status, December 30, 2022.
Education
Kearney State College (now University of Nebraska at Kearney), B.A., 1969
University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D. (with distinction and Order of the Coif), 1972
Professional Career
Law clerk, Hon. Donald Ross, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1972-1974
Private practice, Lexington, Nebraska, 1974-1986
Counsel for the State of Nebraska in regard to the impeachment of the state attorney general of Nebraska, 1984
Archive
Installation As Magistrate Judge (February 5, 1987)
Resolution: Senior Status (December 1, 2011)
Articles
- Malverde Opinion by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf
- "Judge-Specific Sentencing Data for the District of Nebraska" by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf
- The Courts, The Internet, E-Filing and Democracy, University of New Brunswick Law Journal article (2007), by Judge Richard G. Kopf
Federal Sentencing Reporter 2014-15
Blowing Out All the Candles, J.C. Oleson
- Construction and Validation of the Federal Post Conviction Risk Assessment, Federal Probation, Vol. 75 No. 2
- Glenn D. Walters. PICTS
- Holder Cautions on Risk of Bias in Big Data Use in Criminal Justice
- Neglected R, Responsivity and the Federal Offender, Thomas H. Cohen & Jay Whetzel
- Overview of the Federal Post Conviction Risk Assessment Sept. 2011
- Recidivism By Child Pornography Offenders
- Risk In Sentencing, Constitutionally Suspect Variables and Evidence-Based Sentencing, J.C. Oleson
- FSR Cover
- FSR-Editor Observations
- FSR RGK Article