Wilbur Owens

Wilbur Dawson Owens, Jr. (1930 - 2010) was an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.^[1] He joined the court in 1972 after being nominated by President Richard Nixon and served it until his death on April 28, 2010.^[2]

Early life and education

Owens graduated from University of Georgia School of Law with his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1952 and also served in the U.S. Air Force on active duty from 1952 to 1954 and in the Reserves from 1954 to 1968.^[1]

Professional career

• Private practice, Albany, Georgia, 1954-1955
• Vice president and trust officer, Bank of Albany, Albany, Georgia, 1955-1959
• Secretary-treasurer, Southeastern Mortgage Company, Albany, Georgia, 1959-1962
• Assistant U.S. attorney, Middle District of Georgia, Macon, Georgia, 1962-1965
• Private practice, Macon, Georgia, 1965-1972^[1]

Judicial career

Owens was nominated to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia by President Richard M. Nixon on January 21, 1972 to a seat vacated by William Bootle. Owens was confirmed by the Senate on February 17, 1972 and received his commission on March 1, 1972. Owens served as the chief judge of the Middle District of Georgia from 1980 to 1995 before assuming senior status on February 1, 1995. He continued to serve the court on senior status until his death in 2010.^[1] Owens was succeeded in this position by Hugh Lawson.

External links

• Judge Owens Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

Footnotes