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Donald E. O'Brien

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
Biography

Senior Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, P.O. Box 267, Sioux City, Iowa 51102.

Born in 1923 in Marcus, Iowa. Married on April 15, 1950, to Ruth. Four children.

Nominated for appointment on September 27, 1978, by President Jimmy Carter. Sworn in on October 5, 1978; elevated to Chief Judge in 1985 and served in that capacity until 1992; took senior status on December 20, 1992.

Education: Trinity College, Sioux City, Iowa, 1941-42, 1945-46; Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 1946-48. LL.B.

Military Service: entered active duty in December 1942, U.S. Army Air Corps; released in 1945 after World War II service including 30 bomb missions over Europe.

Career Record: 1948-49, 1954-55, 1960-61, 1997-77, attorney, private practice in Sioux City, Iowa.

1949-53 Assistant City Attorney, Sioux City, Iowa; 1955-59, County Attorney, Woodbury County, Iowa; 1959-60, Judge, Municipal Court, Sioux City, Iowa; 1961-67, U.S. Attorney, Dept. Of Justice, Northern District of Iowa; 1977-78, counsel, Committee on Small Business, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

Awards: Military awards and decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross, (4) Air Medal.

Memberships: Judicial Conference of the U.S. Eighth Circuit member, 1990-97

Professional Experience
Judge
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
- Current
Served as chief judge, 1985-1992. Assumed senior status on December 30, 1992.
Attorney
Private practice, Sioux City, Iowa
-
U.S. attorney
Northern District of Iowa
-
Judge
Sioux City [Iowa] Municipal Court
-
County attorney
Woodbury County, Iowa
-
Assistant city attorney
Sioux City, Iowa
-
Attorney
Private practice, Sioux City, Iowa
-
lieutenant
U.S. Army, Air Corps
-
Education
Creighton University School of Law
LL.B. (1948)
Creighton University School of Law Logo
Websites & Blogs
Website
United States District Court, Northern District of Iowa
Website
Federal Judicial Center Biography
Contact & Map
PO BOX 267
Sioux City, IA 51102-0267
Telephone: (712) 233-3916
Fax: (712) 233-3919