John Berne Hannum (March 19, 1915 – April 23, 2007) was a United States federal judge. Born in Chester, Pennsylvania, Hannum received an LL.B. from Dickinson School of Law in 1941. He was in private practice in Chester from 1941 to 1942. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant during World War II, from 1942 to 1946. He was in private practice in Chester from 1946 to 1949. He was in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1949 to 1968. He was a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania from 1968 to 1969.
On March 24, 1969, Hannum was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Francis L. Van Dusen. Hannum was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 5, 1969, and received his commission on May 6, 1969. He assumed senior status on May 29, 1984. Hannum served in that capacity until his death, in Unionville, Pennsylvania.
A notable sentencing by Judge Hannum was that of George Martorano. As of 2012, he is the longest serving inmate for a non-violent offense at 29 years served thus far. Judge Hannum showed no mercy in sentencing Martorano (http://www.freegeorge.us) to life without parole in 1984, against the wishes of the prosecutor, who recommended 40 to 54 months. Martorano is currently at Coleman Federal Prison in Florida.