J.K. Coward, Jr.

James Kent (“Jay”) Coward, Jr. was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on October 19, 1955. He was admitted to the bar in 1984. He was admitted to the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in 1986 and to the United States Supreme Court in 1987. Mr. Coward attended the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, received his B.A.with honors in English from Davidson College in 1977 and his law degree from Campbell University in 1984, where he was a member of the Campbell Law Observer.

Mr. Coward has been active in civic affairs his entire career having served on the boards of Southwestern Community College Foundation, Jackson County Arts Council, the Economic Development Commission, the Westcare Regional Hospital, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Baptist Childrens’ Home of North Carolina. He has chaired the boards of Webster Enterprises, Jackson County Board of Elections, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, The Pinnacle Park Foundation and the Sylva First Baptist Church Board of Deacons. In 1994, he was elected to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners and served until 1998. He is a general practitioner with a focus on government, real property and eminent domain.