Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Booth Goodwin II (born 1971), known commonly as Booth Goodwin, is an American attorney with Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP in Charleston, WV. Goodwin served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia from 2010-2015. Goodwin was a candidate for Governor of the State of West Virginia during the 2016 election cycle.
Early life and education
Goodwin was born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1971. He attended West Virginia University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in economics 1993. He then earned his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1996.
Career
On January 20, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Goodwin to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 26, 2010 and was sworn into office on June 25, 2010.
On December 28, 2015, Goodwin announced that he would be stepping down from his position as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia effective at the end of 2015 and returning to private law practice. On January 1, 2016, Goodwin filed candidacy papers with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office to run for governor of West Virginia as a Democrat in the 2016 election.
Personal life
Goodwin's father, Joseph Robert Goodwin, was appointed in 1995 by President Bill Clinton to serve as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Goodwin's cousin, Carte Goodwin, briefly served as the junior United States Senator from West Virginia in 2010 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert Byrd.
His wife is Amy Shuler Goodwin, has served as a spokesperson for Governors Bob Wise and Earl Ray Tomblin.