Pasco Bowman II
Encyclopedia
Pasco Middleton Bowman II (born 1933) is a senior
federal judge
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
.
A former Fulbright scholar, Bowman was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia
and grew up in New Market
and Timberville, Virginia
. He graduated from New Market High School, and in 1955 received a B.A.
in English from Bridgewater College
in Bridgewater, Virginia
. He took his J.D.
from New York University
in 1958, where he was a Root-Tilden scholar and served as managing editor of the law review. He then went into private practice of law. From 1958 to 1964, with time out for military service and his Fulbright year at the London School of Economics
, he was associated with the New York City law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore
.
Bowman was a member of the faculty of University of Georgia School of Law
from 1964 to 1970. He was then dean
and professor at Wake Forest University
School of Law from 1970 to 1978, and a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
School of Law in 1978-79. He was dean and professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law from July 1979 to July 1983. During this entire period he was also a United States Army Reserve
Colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
from 1959 to 1984.
On May 24, 1983, Bowman was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
by President Ronald Reagan
to a seat vacated by Jesse Smith Henley
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 18, 1983, and received commission on July 19, 1983.
Judge Bowman completed the graduate program for judges at the University of Virginia School of Law
and received his LL.M. from the University of Virginia
in 1986. Judge Bowman was on the short list of candidates to fill the United States Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. in 1987, a seat that ultimately went to Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. His service to the federal judiciary includes tours of duty on the Criminal Law Committee, the Federal-State Jurisdiction Committee, the Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center
, and as chief judge of his court in 1998 and 1999. After twenty years of service as an active judge, he took senior status
on August 1, 2003.
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
.
A former Fulbright scholar, Bowman was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
and grew up in New Market
New Market, Virginia
New Market is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It had a population of 2,146 at the 2010 census. New Market is home to the Rebels of the Valley Baseball League, and the New Market Shockers of the Rockingham County Baseball League.-History:...
and Timberville, Virginia
Timberville, Virginia
Timberville is a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,739 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisonburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Timberville is located at ....
. He graduated from New Market High School, and in 1955 received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English from Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater College, is a private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college located in Bridgewater, Virginia, a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States...
in Bridgewater, Virginia
Bridgewater, Virginia
Bridgewater is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,644 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bridgewater is home to the Reds of the Rockingham County Baseball League...
. He took his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1958, where he was a Root-Tilden scholar and served as managing editor of the law review. He then went into private practice of law. From 1958 to 1964, with time out for military service and his Fulbright year at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, he was associated with the New York City law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is a prominent American law firm based in New York City, with an additional office in London. The second oldest firm in the country, Cravath was founded in 1819 and consistently ranks first among the world's most prestigious law firms according to a survey of partners,...
.
Bowman was a member of the faculty of University of Georgia School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
from 1964 to 1970. He was then dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and professor at Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
School of Law from 1970 to 1978, and a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
School of Law in 1978-79. He was dean and professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law from July 1979 to July 1983. During this entire period he was also a United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
Colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
from 1959 to 1984.
On May 24, 1983, Bowman was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Arkansas* Western District of Arkansas...
by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
to a seat vacated by Jesse Smith Henley
Jesse Smith Henley
Jesse Smith Henley was a United States federal judge.Henley was born in Saint Joe, Arkansas, and received an LL.B. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1941. He was in private practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas from 1941 to 1954...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 18, 1983, and received commission on July 19, 1983.
Judge Bowman completed the graduate program for judges at the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
and received his LL.M. from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1986. Judge Bowman was on the short list of candidates to fill the United States Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. in 1987, a seat that ultimately went to Justice Anthony M. Kennedy. His service to the federal judiciary includes tours of duty on the Criminal Law Committee, the Federal-State Jurisdiction Committee, the Board of Directors of the Federal Judicial Center
Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency of the United States federal courts. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1967, at the recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States....
, and as chief judge of his court in 1998 and 1999. After twenty years of service as an active judge, he took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on August 1, 2003.