Quick facts
Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Position circuit
Status Retired 2007
Served 1982–2007
Appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic)
Commissioned 1982-10-01
Education University of Texas School of Law (LL.B., 1928)
Signed orders read 25
Last updated 2026-07-20
Motion outcomes
AppealN = 19
counts only
4 1 14
Petition for reviewN = 6
counts only
3 2 1
Counted from classified signed orders. A “1 of 1” is one ruling, not a tendency.
About this data
A free Ezel research resource. This profile is built from public records: the judge's own signed orders, public docket records, and published biographies. It is not legal advice and is not affiliated with the court.
How Judge Cowen decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
In contract interpretation, he relied on the parties’ demonstrated pre-dispute understanding of performance.
“allowance of the contractor’s claim would require us to ignore the clearly demonstrated intent of both parties.”
He tested substantial evidence against the whole record, including contrary evidence.
“We “cannot conscientiously find that the evidence supporting [the board’s] decision is substantial, when viewed in the light that the record in its entirety furnishes, including the body of evidence opposed to the Board’s view.””
He separated sympathetic presentation from the legal showing needed to overturn denial of veterans benefits.
“Although he has pleaded his case eloquently, Mr. Talon has not established that the denial of his application for a pension violated his constitutional rights, or that the decision below should be reversed on any other ground.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
John T. Brady & Company v. The United States
· 1982-11-18
Appeal (United States)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Donna Carroll v. Department of Health and Human Services
· 1983-04-04
Petition for review (Donna Carroll)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Jesus M. Ceja v. United States
· 1983-06-27
Petition for review (Jesus M. Ceja)
Granted
“REVERSED AND REMANDED.”
Norman A. Foster and Charles T. Heimerdinger v. United States, Ronald R. Olson v. United States
· 1984-04-23
Appeal (Norman A. Foster, Charles T. Heimerdinger, and Ronald R. Olson)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Sister Mary K. Samson v. United States
· 1984-09-12
Appeal (Sister Mary K. Samson)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Loftin v. United States
· 1985-06-28
Appeal (William P. Loftin Sr.)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Joseph A. Antal v. Merit Systems Protection Board
· 1985-10-17
Petition for review (Joseph A. Antal)
Granted
“REVERSED AND REMANDED.”
American Federation of Government Employees v. United States
· 1986-01-02
Appeal (American Federation of Government Employees and associated plaintiffs)
Denied
“AFFIRMED”
Branning v. United States
· 1986-02-14
Appeal (United States)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Broomall Industries, Inc. v. Data Design Logic Systems, Inc.
· 1986-03-17
Appeal (Broomall Industries, Inc.)
Granted
“VACATED AND REMANDED.”
Lacy M. Henry D/B/A Qualified Personnel, and Qualified Maintenance and Construction Personnel, Inc. v. United States
· 1986-06-06
Appeal (Lacy M. Henry and the Qualified Personnel businesses)
Denied
“AFFIRMED.”
Michael Crivelli v. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration
· 1986-06-18
Petition for review (Michael Crivelli and Stuart Morse)
Granted in part
“AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Cowen no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.