Federal Judiciary,  Politics

Priscilla Owen Sworn into Office

Texas Justice Priscilla Owen, the subject of a long and heated confirmation battle in the U.S. Senate, took the oath of office today for the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Owen, 50, won Senate confirmation last month after a four-year fight over President Bush’s push to place conservatives on the nation’s highest courts. She became the first of Bush’s long-blocked nominees to win approval under an agreement reached by centrists in the Senate.

“This has been a long road,” Owen said after her swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Supreme Court chamber, where she has been a justice for more than 10 years.

Owen was first nominated by Bush to the federal appeals court in May 2001. She continued to serve on Texas’ highest civil court while awaiting confirmation.

PRISCILLA OWEN

AGE/
BIRTHDATE:
50; Oct. 4, 1954.

SCHOOLS: University of Texas 1972-73, B.A., Baylor University 1975; J.D., Baylor School of Law, 1977.

EXPERIENCE:
• Law clerk, Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, 1976-77.
• Admitted to Texas Bar, 1978.
• Associate and partner, Andrews, Kurth, Campbell & Jones, 1978-94.
• Elected to the Texas Supreme Court, 1994.

LINKS:
• The official bio: From the U.S. Department of Justice
• A view from the right: From the Free Congress Foundation
• A view from the left: From the Independent Judi


Congratulations to Judge Owen and thanks for the perseverance!