Owens was born in Washington, D.C. in 1971, and grew up in Northern California.[1][2] He is the grandson of Harold Agnew.[3][4]
Owens graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts with high distinction. While an undergraduate, Owens worked as a marketing assistant for the Golden State Warriors. He then attended Stanford Law School, where he was an editor of the Stanford Law Review. He graduated in 1996 ranked first in his class with a Juris Doctor degree with distinction.[1]
From January 2012 until April 2014, Owens was a litigation partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.[1]
Federal judicial service
On August 1, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Owens to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[1] He filled the seat that was vacated by Judge Stephen S. Trott, who assumed senior status on December 31, 2004.[7] On January 16, 2014 his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote.[8] On March 26, 2014, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the nomination. On March 27, 2014, the United States Senate invoked cloture on Owens' nomination by a 54–44 vote.[9] On March 31, 2014, Owens’ nomination was confirmed by a 56–43 vote.[10][11] He received his judicial commission on April 2, 2014.[12] Owens was officially seated and sworn in on April 25, 2014.
See also
List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 6)
References
^ abcdDolan, Maura (August 1, 2013). "Two lawyers from same California firm nominated for 9th Circuit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
^"New 9th Circuit judge's local roots". San Jose Mercury News. July 17, 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
^Mulkin, Barb (March 1979). "Beverly J Agnew" (PDF). The Atom. 15 (2): 9. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
^Mintz, Howard (August 1, 2013). "White House names S.F., L.A. lawyers to powerful federal appeals court". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
^"Results of Executive Business Meeting - January 16, 2014" (PDF). Retrieved 16 January 2014.
^"On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of John B. Owens, of California, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit)". United States Senate. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
^"On the Nomination (Confirmation John B. Owens, of California, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit)". United States Senate. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
^"Senate Vote Could End Feud Over Ninth Circuit Seat". Legal Times. Retrieved 31 March 2014.