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 "excerpt": "Robert E. Cowen, born 1930 in Newark, New Jersey, is a former United States circuit judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, appointed by Ronald Reagan.",
 "snippet": "Robert E. Cowen, born 1930 in Newark, New Jersey, is a former United States circuit judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, appointed by Ronald Reagan.",
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 "markdown": "# Robert E. Cowen\n\nRobert E. Cowen (born 1930) is an American jurist and a former senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, having assumed senior status in 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He no longer hears cases, having assumed inactive status in 2022. He previously served as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> Both of his federal judicial appointments were made by President Ronald Reagan.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | November 6, 1987, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n| Senior status | September 4, 1998<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n| Born | 1930, Newark, New Jersey<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S., Drake University, 1952; LL.B., Rutgers School of Law – Newark, 1958<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nCowen was born in 1930 in [Newark, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/newark-new-jersey).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) degree from [Drake University](https://www.edgepedia.org/drake-university) in 1952 and a Bachelor of Laws from Rutgers School of Law – Newark in 1958.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nFollowing law school, Cowen served as a law clerk to Judge Walter Conklin of the Superior Court of New Jersey from 1958 to 1959.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He then entered private practice in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked from 1959 to 1969.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He served as an assistant prosecutor for [Essex County, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/essex-county-new-jersey), from 1969 to 1970, and as a deputy attorney general for the State of New Jersey from 1970 to 1973.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> From 1973 to 1978, he was director of the Division of Ethics and Professional Services in the Administrative Office of the Courts of New Jersey in Trenton.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nCowen was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on October 7, 1985, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He was confirmed by voice vote on November 1, 1985, and received his commission on November 4, 1985.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> His service on the district court ended on November 16, 1987, upon his appointment to another judicial position.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup>\n\nOn August 7, 1987, Reagan nominated Cowen to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He was confirmed by voice vote on November 6, 1987, and received his commission on November 9, 1987.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup> He assumed senior status on September 4, 1998.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Federal Judicial Center, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Robert E. Cowen](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)\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 courts of appeals judges › Surnames A to C*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 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": "\"Robert E. Cowen\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Robert E. Cowen](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
 "credit_html": "\"<a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen\">Robert E. Cowen</a>\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen\">https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-e-cowen</a>. <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\">Edgepedia Community License 1.0</a>.",
 "speakable": "Robert E. Cowen, born 1930 in Newark, New Jersey, is a former United States circuit judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, appointed by Ronald Reagan."
}