Karon O. Bowdre

Karon Owen Bowdre
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Assumed office
April 25, 2020
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
In office
November 18, 2013 – December 31, 2019
Preceded bySharon Lovelace Blackburn
Succeeded byL. Scott Coogler
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
In office
November 8, 2001 – April 25, 2020
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySam C. Pointer Jr.
Succeeded byAnna M. Manasco
Personal details
Born
Karon Lynn Owen[1]

(1955-04-25) April 25, 1955 (age 69)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Spouse(s)J. Birch Bowdre, Jr.[1]
ResidenceBirmingham, Alabama[1]
EducationSamford University (BA)
Cumberland School of Law (JD)

Karon Lynn Owen Bowdre (born April 25, 1955) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She also serves as chair of the board of trustees of Samford University.

Early life and education

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Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Bowdre graduated from Samford University with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 and later from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University with a Juris Doctor in 1981.

Career

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Bowdre was a law clerk for Judge Junius Foy Guin, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from 1981 to 1982. Bowdre was a partner at the Birmingham, Alabama, firm of Rives & Peterson from 1982 to 1990. Beginning in 1989, Bowdre became a full-time Professor of law at Samford University Cumberland School of Law where she taught insurance law, legal ethics, and professional responsibility, and directed Cumberland’s legal research and writing program before her federal appointment in 2001.[2] Bowdre was first elected to Samford's board of trustees in 2008. She became chair of the board on September 9, 2023.[3]

Federal judicial service

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On September 4, 2001, Bowdre was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama by President George W. Bush. She was nominated to the seat vacated by Judge Sam Clyde Pointer Jr. Bowdre was confirmed by the Senate on November 6, 2001, and received her commission on November 8, 2001. She served as Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama from November 18, 2013 to December 31, 2019. She assumed senior status on April 25, 2020.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Confirmation hearings on federal appointments : hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, first session. pt.2 (2002)
  2. ^ "Lunch with a Lawyer Series - Judge Karon O. Bowdre (Retrieved December 21, 2009)". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  3. ^ "Bowdre Elected as Samford's Trustee Chair". Samford University. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
2001–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
2013–2019
Succeeded by