Arnold Cowen

Arnold Wilson Cowen was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Court of Claims. He was reassigned from the Court of Claims to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982. Cowen died on October 28, 2007.

Education

Cowen earned his LLB from the University of Texas School of Law in 1928.

Professional career

Cowen worked in private practice in Dalhart, Texas, from 1928 to 1934. He then served as a judge for Dallam County, Texas, from 1935 to 1938. He was then Texas State Director of the Farm Security Administration for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1938 to 1939. He then worked as Associate Division Director from 1939 to 1940. He was also Region 12 Director of the Farm Security Administration for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1940 to 1942. Cowen was a U.S. Commissioner on the U.S. Court of Claims from 1942 to 1943 and again from 1945 to 1959. From 1943 to 1945 he was an Assistant Administrator for the U.S. War Food Administration. In 1945 he was Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He then was Chief Commissioner of the U.S. Court of Claims from 1959 to 1964.

Federal judicial service

Cowen was nominated in 1964 by Lyndon Johnson to serve the U.S. Court of Claims as chief judge. He was commissioned on July 7, 1964. He served as chief judge until 1967, and continued serving as an associate judge from 1967-1977. He assumed senior status on March 1, 1977. He was reassigned to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as a senior judge on October 1, 1982. His service was terminated on October 28, 2007 due to his death.