Finis E. Cowan (October 16, 1929 – November 15, 2023) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and was an attorney in private practice.

Finis E. Cowan
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
In office
June 14, 1977 – June 30, 1979
Appointed byJimmy Carter
Preceded byJames Latane Noel Jr.
Succeeded byHugh Gibson
Personal details
Born
Finis E. Cowan

(1929-10-16)October 16, 1929
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 2023(2023-11-15) (aged 94)
Dickinson, Texas, U.S.
EducationRice University (BA)
University of Texas School of Law (LLB)

Education and career edit

Born on October 16, 1929,[citation needed] in Dallas, Texas, Cowan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 1951 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Texas School of Law in 1956, graduating Order of the Coif.[1] He was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1953. He was in private practice in Houston, Texas from 1956 to 1977.[2]

Federal judicial service edit

On May 19, 1977, Cowan was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the Galveston Division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas vacated by Judge James Latane Noel Jr. Cowan was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 13, 1977, and received his commission on June 14, 1977. Cowan served in that capacity for just over two years, resigning on June 30, 1979, and returning to private practice in Houston.[2][1]

Post judicial service edit

Cowan remained in the private practice of law since his resignation from the federal bench. He served with the law firm of Yetter Coleman LLP and was in active service as of April 2018.[1]

Cowan died in Dickinson, Texas, on November 15, 2023, at the age of 94.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Cowan, JR, Finis E. - Yetter Coleman LLP".
  2. ^ a b Finis E. Cowan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ "Finis Ewing Cowan, Jr". Galveston County Daily News. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.

Sources edit

Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
1977–1979
Succeeded by