[1] Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Kauffman received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956 and a Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School in 1959.
He was a law clerk to the Vincent S. Haneman, Superior Court of New Jersey from 1959 to 1960.
On July 31, 1997, Kauffman was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by James McGirr Kelly.
He assumed senior status on February 11, 2008, and retired completely on July 20, 2009.
Upon retirement he became associated with the Elliott Greenleaf law firm in Philadelphia.