Third Circuit / Appointed 1987 / Senior status
Robert E. Cowen
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 and confirmed by voice vote, Robert E. Cowen is a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He earned a law degree from Rutgers School of Law -- Newark in 1958. He previously served on the District of New Jersey.Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, November 6, 1987
- Appointed by
- Ronald Reagan, 1987
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Education
- Drake 1952 · Rutgers Law -- Newark 1958
- Succeeded
- James Hunter III
- Succeeded by
- Julio M. Fuentes
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | District of New Jersey | Reagan (R) | voice |
| 1987 | Third Circuit · succeeded James Hunter III | Reagan (R) | voice |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Drake University | B.S. | 1952 |
| Rutgers School of Law -- Newark | LL.B. | 1958 |
Sources
38 years on the Third Circuit. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).