Robert Cowen

Robert E. Cowen (born 1930 in Newark, New Jersey) is a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and has served in the federal judiciary since 1978.

From 1978 to 1985, Cowen was a U.S. Magistrate in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. On October 7, 1985, he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a newly created federal district court. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 1, 1985.

Less than two years later, on August 7, 1987, Cowen was nominated by Reagan for a seat on the U.S. Court for the Third Circuit and was confirmed on November 6, 1987. He served 11 years before assuming senior status on September 4, 1998.

Cowen received his B.S. from Drake University in 1952 and his LL.B. from Rutgers School of Law—Newark in 1958.

Prior to joining the federal judiciary, Cowen's professional career includes the following service: law clerk, Hon. Walter Conklin, Superior Court of New Jersey, 1958-1959; private practice, Newark, New Jersey, 1959-1969; assistant county prosecutor, Essex County Prosecutor's Office, New Jersey, 1969-1970; deputy state attorney general, Office of the State Attorney General, New Jersey, 1970-1973; director, Ethics and Professional Services, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, State of New Jersey, 1973-1978.