Wilbur Dawson Owens Jr.

Wilbur Dawson Owens Jr. (born 1930) is a United States federal judge.

Born in Albany, Georgia, Owens received an LL.B. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1952. He was a U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1954, continuing his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1954 to 1968. He was in private practice in Albany, Georgia from 1954 to 1955, and was a vice president and trust officer of the Bank of Albany from 1955 to 1959. He was secretary-treasurer of Southeastern Mortgage Company in Albany from 1959 to 1962. He was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, stationed in Macon, Georgia, from 1962 to 1965, thereafter returning to private practice but remaining in Macon, until 1972.

On January 21, 1972, Owens was nominated by President Richard Nixon to a seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia vacated by William A. Bootle. Owens was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1972, and received his commission on March 1, 1972. He served as chief judge from 1980 to 1995. Assuming senior status on February 1, 1995.

Sources

• Wilbur Dawson Owens Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.