---
title: "Robert E. Cowen | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-e-cowen"
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updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Robert E. Cowen

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · U.S. Circuit Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- State: National federal courts
- Role: U.S. Circuit Judge
- Service status: senior
- Last verified: 2026-07-25

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judge (1987–present), nominated by Reagan on August 7, 1987; confirmed November 6, 1987; assumed senior status September 4, 1998
- U.S. District Judge, D. New Jersey (1985–1987), nominated by President Ronald Reagan on October 7, 1985; confirmed by the Senate on November 1, 1985; commissioned November 4, 1985
- U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (1978–1985)
- Director, Division of Ethics and Professional Services, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Trenton, NJ, 1973-1978
- Deputy attorney general, State of New Jersey, 1970-1973
- Deputy Attorney General, NJ (1970–1973)
- Assistant prosecutor, Essex County, NJ, 1969-1970
- Law clerk, Hon. Walter Conklin, Superior Court of New Jersey, 1958-1959
- Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

### Education

- Rutgers School of Law–Newark He also attended Columbia Law School before leaving to serve in the U.S. Army, using the G.I. Bill to fund his education — LL.B. (1958)
- Drake University — B.S. (1952)

### Additional information

- Private practice, Newark, NJ, 1959-1969
- Date of birth: 1930-01-01
- Cowen succeeded James Hunter III on the Third Circuit and has authored and sat on numerous appellate opinions, including Mellon Bank (East), N.A. v.
- Glick and Artway v.
- Scheidemantel.
- Birth place: Newark, NJ

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### appellate oral argument

Scope: courtwide

In federal courts of appeals, oral argument is allowed unless a three-judge panel unanimously finds one of Rule 34's specified grounds for dispensing with it; the clerk provides the date, time, place, and time allocation.

Evidence excerpt: Oral argument must be allowed in every case unless a panel of three judges who have examined the briefs and record unanimously agrees that oral argument is unnecessary

[Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)
- [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)
- [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1379556)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/741/robert-e-cowen/)
- [Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 34, Oral Argument](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-appellate-procedure)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/741/robert-e-cowen/)
- [Wikidata: Robert E. Cowen](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7343157)

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