RAISING THE BAR Judge administers law oath to his eldest son

BANGOR – U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. is known for delivering stern sentencing lectures from the bench.

More often than not, he resembles a disappointed, scowling father lecturing an errant teenager.

It was a proud and beaming father, however, who watched his namesake raise his right hand Friday and recite the oath that will allow him to practice law in every federal court in the nation.

John A. “Jack” Woodcock III, along with two of his father’s former law clerks and five other recent law school graduates, became members of the federal bar at the ceremony held in U.S. District Court.

A similar ceremony was held last week in Penobscot County Superior Court to allow recent law school graduates who have passed the Maine bar examination to practice in state court.

“It is with no small amount of pride, both judicial and parental, that I … welcome these new attorneys,” Judge Woodcock said, before addressing each person individually.

Two other members of the Woodcock family also are lawyers. The judge’s brother, Timothy Woodcock, is in private practice in Bangor, while his sister, Elizabeth Woodcock, works as an assistant U.S. attorney in Rutland, Vt.

Traditionally, lawyers seeking admission to the bar are nominated by an elder member. Jack Woodcock’s aunt nominated him.

“Jack, I could say what you must know – how very proud your mother and I are today,” the judge said addressing his son after the federal bar oath had been administered. “But I might have to call a recess to compose myself.”

The younger Woodcock is the eldest of the judge’s three sons. A graduate of Hampden Academy, Bowdoin College and the University of Maine Law School, he is a clerk in Bangor for Superior Court Justice Warren Silver.

The Woodcocks were not the only family team at Friday’s ceremony.

Philip A. Foster of Ellsworth nominated his son, Mark Foster, to the federal bar. Mark Bower, whose father, David Bower, practiced law in Bangor until his death in 2002, also was sworn in to the federal bar.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Louis H. Kornreich joined Judge Woodcock on the bench for the ceremony. He told the new lawyers they have a special role to play in the state’s legal community.

“I invite you younger attorneys to keep the gray-haired ones sharp,” Kornreich said, pointing to his own white hair and beard. “Just by standing next to us, you make us look smarter and better.”