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 "excerpt": "Karon O. Bowdre, born 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, is a senior United States district judge for the Northern District of Alabama, appointed by George W. Bush in 2001.",
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 "markdown": "# Karon O. Bowdre\n\nKaron O. Bowdre (born 1955) is an American jurist serving as a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama since 2020.<sup>[1](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup> She was appointed by President George W. Bush, receiving her commission in 2001.<sup>[2](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/know-your-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup> She served as chief judge of the court from 2013 to 2019 before assuming senior status.<sup>[2](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/know-your-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | George W. Bush<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | November 6, 2001 (Senate voted 98 to 0)<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1070326)</sup> |\n| Chief judge | 2013 to 2019<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n| Senior status | April 25, 2020<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n| Born | 1955, Montgomery, Alabama<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n| Education | B.A., Samford University, 1977; J.D., Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, 1981<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nBowdre was born in 1955 in [Montgomery, Alabama](https://www.edgepedia.org/montgomery-alabama).<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> She received her [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) degree from [Samford University](https://www.edgepedia.org/samford-university) in 1977 and her Juris Doctor from the university's Cumberland School of Law in 1981.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Bowdre served as a law clerk to Judge J. Foy Guin, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from 1981 to 1982.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> She then engaged in private practice in Alabama from 1982 to 1990.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> From 1990 to 2001, she was a professor of law at the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nPresident [George W. Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-w-bush) first announced his intent to nominate Bowdre to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on August 2, 2001, though no Senate vote followed that nomination.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> He formally nominated her on September 4, 2001.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> The Senate confirmed her on November 6, 2001, by a vote of 98 to 0.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1070326)</sup> She received her commission on November 8, 2001.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> She served as chief judge of the Northern District of Alabama from 2013 to 2019.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> She assumed senior status on April 25, 2020.<sup>[3](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)</sup> As a senior judge, she maintains standing orders governing electronic filing of motions and briefs in matters set for hearing before her.<sup>[1](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup>\n\n## Notable cases\n\nIn 2017, Bowdre dismissed a personal injury claim against BP Exploration & Production Inc. brought by a deck hand who alleged he was exposed to toxic substances while delivering cargo to boats assisting in the cleanup of the [Deepwater Horizon](https://www.edgepedia.org/deepwater-horizon) spill.<sup>[2](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/know-your-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup> In 2016, she allowed an employment-related claim to proceed, according to Bloomberg Law's profile of her rulings on employment issues.<sup>[2](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/know-your-judge-karon-o-bowdre)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Senior Judge Karon O. Bowdre](https://www.alnd.uscourts.gov/content/senior-judge-karon-o-bowdre)\n2. [Know Your Judge: Karon O. Bowdre](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/employee-benefits/know-your-judge-karon-o-bowdre)\n3. [https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391331)\n4. [Senate Roll Call Vote, November 6, 2001](https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS1070326)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames Bl to By*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Karon O. Bowdre\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/karon-o-bowdre. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
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