Carte Goodwin

{{Short description|American attorney and politician (born 1974)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Carte Goodwin

| image = Carte Goodwin Official Photo.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2010

| jr/sr2 = United States Senator

| state2 = West Virginia

| appointer2 = Joe Manchin

| term_start2 = July 16, 2010

| term_end2 = November 15, 2010

| predecessor2 = Robert Byrd

| successor2 = Joe Manchin

| birth_name = Carte Patrick Goodwin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|2|27}}

| birth_place = Mount Alto, West Virginia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Rochelle Goodwin

| children = 2

| education = Marietta College (BA)
Emory University (JD)

| relations = Joseph Goodwin (uncle)
Booth Goodwin (cousin)

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Carte Goodwin Questions Witnesses on For-Profit College Financial Aid.ogg|title=Carte Goodwin's voice|type=speech|description=Goodwin questions witnesses at a Senate HELP Committee hearing on for-profit college financial aid
Recorded August 4, 2010}}

}}

Carte Patrick Goodwin (born February 27, 1974) is an American attorney and politician who served as a United States senator from West Virginia in 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed by Governor Joe Manchin on July 16, 2010 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Robert Byrd. He chose not to seek election to finish Byrd’s unexpired term. Goodwin left office on November 15, 2010 when Manchin was sworn in after being elected to the Senate.

Prior to his appointment as a United States senator, Goodwin served as Manchin's chief counsel. In 2008, he was named one of the "Ten Most Successful Young Executives in West Virginia" by Executive magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/16/carte-goodwin-6-things-to-know-about-w-va-s-new-senator/|title=Carte Goodwin: 6 Things to Know About W.Va.'s New Senator|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2013|work=AOL News|author=Steven Hoffer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029151746/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/07/16/carte-goodwin-6-things-to-know-about-w-va-s-new-senator/|archive-date=October 29, 2013}} In 2010, Time named him one of the rising stars of American politics under 40, in their list of "40 under 40".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2023831_2023829_2025215,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017081634/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2023831_2023829_2025215,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2010|title=40 Under 40|magazine=Time |date=October 14, 2010}} After leaving the Senate, Goodwin joined the law firm of Frost Brown Todd. From 2011 to 2021, Goodwin served as a commissioner on the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.{{Cite web|title=Commission Members {{!}} U.S.- CHINA {{!}} ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION|url=https://www.uscc.gov/about-us/commission-members|access-date=2022-01-03|website=www.uscc.gov}}

Early life and education

Goodwin was born on February 27, 1974, to Ellen (née Gibson) and Stephen Patrick Goodwin, and was raised in rural Mount Alto, West Virginia.{{cite news|title=Stephen Goodwin|url=http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/529032.html|access-date=July 16, 2010|newspaper=Parkersburg News and Sentinel|date=April 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714175054/http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/529032.html|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead}} He comes from a prominent West Virginia political family. Goodwin's father chaired the West Virginia University board of directors. His uncle, Joseph Robert Goodwin, served as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.{{FJC Bio|884|nid=1381361|name=Joseph Robert Goodwin}}

Goodwin graduated from Ripley High School in 1992, and graduated magna cum laude from Marietta College in 1996 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/states/WV/senators.htm|title=Senate profile|work=United States Senate|access-date=January 8, 2013}} In 1999 Goodwin earned his Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, graduating a member of the Order of the Coif.{{cite web|url=http://www.law.emory.edu/about-emory-law/news-article/article/emory-law-grad-tapped-to-fill-senate-seat.html |title=Emory Law Grad Tapped to Fill Senate Seat |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=January 8, 2013 |work=Emory University School of Law |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102191945/http://www.law.emory.edu/about-emory-law/news-article/article/emory-law-grad-tapped-to-fill-senate-seat.html |archive-date=January 2, 2013 }}

Career

After graduating from law school, Goodwin clerked for 4th Circuit Judge Robert Bruce King from 1999 to 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2010/07/with-west-virginia-senate-pick.html |title=With West Virginia Senate Pick, DADT Is On Their Minds |author=Chris Geidner |date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=January 10, 2013 |work=Metro Weekly |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719202031/http://metroweekly.com/poliglot/2010/07/with-west-virginia-senate-pick.html |archive-date=July 19, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://news2.marietta.edu/node/1070|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217092942/http://news2.marietta.edu/node/1070|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|title=Carte Goodwin '96 selected to fill the late Robert Byrd's W.Va. Senate seat|year=2010|access-date=January 10, 2013|work=Marietta College|author=Tom Perry}} In 2000 Goodwin joined his family's law firm, Goodwin & Goodwin, working there until 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.goodwingoodwin.com/attorneys/carte-p-goodwin/|title=Attorneys: Carte P. Goodwin|access-date=January 8, 2013|work=Goodwin & Goodwin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129080757/http://www.goodwingoodwin.com/attorneys/carte-p-goodwin/|archive-date=2012-11-29|url-status=dead}} He rejoined the firm in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://greenbrierwvchamber.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/carte-goodwin-to-speak-at-greater-greenbrier-chamber-annual-meeting/|title=Carte Goodwin to speak at Greater Greenbrier Chamber Annual Meeting|date=March 7, 2012|access-date=January 11, 2013|work=Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce}}

In 2004, Goodwin worked on then-Secretary of State Joe Manchin's successful campaign for governor.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/16/carte-goodwin-west-virgin_n_648886.html|title=Carte Goodwin Appointed To Fill Robert Byrd's West Virginia Senate Seat (VIDEO)|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=January 10, 2013|work=The Huffington Post}} Goodwin was appointed chairman of the West Virginia School Building Authority by Manchin and later served as his chief counsel, from 2005 to 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wvmr/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1676610/AMR.Newsroom..and..Archive/Governor.Manchin.Chooses.Former.Counsel.Carte.Goodwin.As.Temporary.Appointee.To.Fill.Senate.Seat.|title=Governor Manchin Chooses Former Counsel Carte Goodwin As Temporary Appointee To Fill Senate Seat|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=January 10, 2013|work=West Virginia Mountain Radio|author=Heather Niday|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231748/http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wvmr/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1676610/AMR.Newsroom..and..Archive/Governor.Manchin.Chooses.Former.Counsel.Carte.Goodwin.As.Temporary.Appointee.To.Fill.Senate.Seat.|url-status=dead}} As the governor's counsel, Goodwin assisted in the drafting of mine rescue and security measures, sparked by fatal accidents in the Aracoma and Sago Mines. In June 2009, Manchin appointed Goodwin chairman of the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform, which studied the need for changes in the judicial system in West Virginia.{{cite news|url=http://wvrecord.com/news/222248-judicial-reform-panel-submits-report|title=Judicial Reform panel submits report|author=Chris Dickerson|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=January 11, 2013|work=West Virginia Record}}{{cite web|url=http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/62438327.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217013345/http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/62438327.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|title=Panel Continues Looking at Reforming WV Judicial System|agency=Associated Press|author=Lawrence Messina|date=September 29, 2009|access-date=January 11, 2013}}

In 2011, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Goodwin to a two-year term as a commissioner of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a position to which he was re-appointed until 2021.{{cite web|url=http://www.uscc.gov/about/commissioners/goodwin.php |title=USCC Commissioners Page: Carte Goodwin |work=United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission |access-date=January 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211222155/http://www.uscc.gov/about/commissioners/goodwin.php |archive-date=December 11, 2012 }} He was reappointed in 2023.{{cite web|url= https://www.uscc.gov/about-us/commission-members |title=Commission Members |access-date=September 29, 2024}}

=U.S. Senate=

{{wikinews|West Virginia governor names Carte Goodwin as new Senator}}

On July 16, 2010, Manchin appointed Goodwin to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Robert Byrd, until a special election could choose a permanent successor.{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/16/wva-governor-appoints-ex-adviser-byrds-senate-seat/?page=all |title=W.Va. governor appoints ex-adviser to Byrd's Senate seat |author=Joseph Weber|date=July 16, 2010 |work=The Washington Times |access-date=January 11, 2013}} Goodwin stated that he would not seek election to the seat in his own right, and that he would leave office once a new senator had been elected.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/carte-goodwin-clears-path-for-senate-to-extend-unemployment-benefits/ |title=Carte Goodwin Clears Path for Senate to Extend Unemployment Benefits |author=Stephanie Condon |work=CBS News |date=July 16, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2013}} Observers suggested that Goodwin had been appointed as a placeholder for Manchin, who subsequently won the special election to complete Byrd's term.{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/07/carte_goodwin_gets_to_be_a_sen.html |title=Carte Goodwin, 36, Gets to Be a Senator for a Few Months |publisher = New York Magazine |date=July 16, 2010 |author= Dan Amira}}

File:Carte Goodwin with Jay Rockefeller.jpg]]

Before being sworn in to office, Goodwin broke with Senate Democrats, stating he would not support their cap-and-trade bill.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39862.html|title=Carte Goodwin says no to cap on emissions|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=January 9, 2013|work=Politico|author=Darren Samuelsohn}}

Goodwin was sworn into the Senate on July 20, 2010, and quickly joined with fellow Democrats to pass an extension of unemployment benefits, an effort they previously were unable to pass due to a Republican filibuster.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2010/07/20/128645770/goodwin-d-wv-sworn-in-dems-end-gop-filibuster-on-unemployment-benefits|title=Goodwin (D-W.Va.) Sworn In, Dems End GOP Filibuster On Unemployment Benefits|author=Ken Rudin|date=July 20, 2010|access-date=January 8, 2013|work=NPR}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/20/west.virginia.senate/index.html|title=Interim senator from West Virginia to take oath in time for key vote|date=July 20, 2010|access-date=January 9, 2013|work=CNN}} He voted to confirm Elena Kagan as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.{{cite web |url=http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201008050598 |title=Sen. Goodwin to vote to confirm Kagan |date=August 5, 2010 |access-date=January 9, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808154721/http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201008050598 |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}

Goodwin's term expired on November 15, 2010, when Manchin was sworn in as a U.S. senator.{{cite news|last1=Sonmez|first1=Felicia|title=Delaware's Coons, West Virginia's Manchin sworn in as U.S. senators|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/15/AR2010111506020.html|access-date=29 June 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=15 Nov 2010}} During his short tenure, Goodwin served on the following committees:{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/panel-seats-for-goodwin-announced-20100723 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216121710/http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/panel-seats-for-goodwin-announced-20100723 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |title=Panel Seats For Goodwin Announced |date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=January 8, 2013 |work=National Journal }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CPRT-111SPRT61506/html/CPRT-111SPRT61506.htm|title=Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the 111th Congress|work=United States Government Printing Office|date=October 1, 2010}}

=Post-Senate career=

Goodwin was mentioned as a possible candidate to run to succeed Senator Jay Rockefeller, who chose not to run for re-election in 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/01/11/rockefellers-retirement-boosts-gop-hopes-in-west-virginia/|title=Rockefeller's retirement boosts GOP hopes in West Virginia|author=Sean Sullivan|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=January 11, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post}} However, Goodwin said he had no intention of running, citing family concerns.{{cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/carte-goodwin-out-for-2014/|title=Carte Goodwin out for 2014|author=Hoppy Kercheval|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=March 24, 2013|work=WV MetroNews}}

In 2021, U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Bruce King announced plans to assume senior status, but later rescinded those plans. Reports indicated that King preferred to have Goodwin, his former clerk, replace him and was displeased that the White House had a different potential nominee in mind.{{cite web|url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2021/08/24/judge-robert-king-taking-senior-status-giving-biden-another-4th-circuit-vacancy/|title=Judge Robert King Taking Senior Status, Giving Biden Another 4th Circuit Vacancy|date=August 24, 2021|accessdate=November 27, 2021|first=Avalon|last=Zoppo|work=The National Law Journal}}{{cite web | url=https://reason.com/volokh/2021/11/28/judges-who-rescind-their-senior-status-announcement-because-they-dont-like-their-replacements/ | title=Judges Who Rescind Their Senior Status Announcement Because They Don't Like Their Replacements | date=28 November 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://wvrecord.com/stories/613723024-king-steps-back-from-moving-to-senior-status-might-have-been-unhappy-with-replacement-plan | title=King steps back from moving to senior status, might have been unhappy with replacement plan }}

After leaving the Senate, Goodwin joined the law firm of Frost Brown Todd, where he has served as member-in-charge for their Charleston, West Virginia, office and vice chair for the firm's national Appellate Practice Group.[https://www.frostbrowntodd.com/professionals-carte-goodwin.html Carte P. Goodwin - Frost Brown Todd] As of June 2023, Goodwin remains a partner at the firm.{{cite web|url=https://frostbrowntodd.com/people/carte-goodwin/|title=Carte P. Goodwin Biography|website=frostbrowntodd.com|access-date=June 23, 2023}}

Personal life

Goodwin and his wife, Rochelle, have two children: A son named Wesley and a daughter named Anna.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201008120392 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121111423/http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201008120392 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |title=Senator Goodwin welcomes new baby |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=December 20, 2010 |work=Charleston Daily Mail |first=Ry |last=Rivard }} Rochelle Goodwin worked for West Virginia's U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller as his state director.{{cite web|publisher=NBC |url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/16/4690605-so-who-is-carte-goodwin |title=So who is Carte Goodwin? |date=July 16, 2010 |access-date=January 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114054602/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/16/4690605-so-who-is-carte-goodwin |archive-date=January 14, 2012 }}

Goodwin's cousin, Booth Goodwin, was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia by President Barack Obama.{{cite web |author=The White House: Office of the Press Secretary |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-nominates-five-serve-us-attorneys |title=President Obama Nominates Five to Serve as U.S. Attorneys |date=January 20, 2010 |access-date=March 27, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216173234/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-nominates-five-serve-us-attorneys |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |archive-date=February 16, 2017 }}{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Clevenger |url=http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201006250961?page=1 |title=Goodwin sworn in as U.S. Attorney for Southern W.Va. |work=The Charleston Gazette |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=March 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309153811/http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201006250961?page=1 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 }}