John H. Wood, Jr.

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This article is about the murdered US judge. For other people with similar names, see John Wood (disambiguation).

John Howland Wood, Jr. (March 31, 1916 - May 29, 1979) served as a Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas before being killed by Texas assassin Charles Harrelson outside Wood's home in San Antonio, Texas on May 29, 1979.

Wood was born to a prominent Texas family in Rockport, Texas and earned his L.L.B. from the University of Texas in 1938. Before and after serving in the Navy during WW II he was a lawyer in San Antonio. He was appointed as a federal judge in 1970 by President Richard Nixon and served until his death.

Wood was well known for his heavy sentencing of drug traffickers . Wood would always pass the maximum penalty allowed, earning him the nickname "Maximum John." The murder contract had been placed by Texas drug lord Jamiel Chagra a.k.a Jimmy Chagra, who was awaiting trial before the judge. This was the first assassination of a U.S. federal judge in the 20th century.

John H. Wood Middle School, in San Antonio, Texas is named in his honor. The Federal Court House in San Antonio is also named for Wood.