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O'Brien, Donald Eugene
Died August 18, 2015, in Sioux City, IA
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Nominated by Jimmy Carter on September 27, 1978, to a seat vacated by William C. Hanson. Confirmed by the Senate on October 4, 1978, and received commission on October 5, 1978. Service terminated on December 1, 1990, due to reassignment.
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
Nominated by Jimmy Carter on September 27, 1978, to a seat vacated by William C. Hanson. Confirmed by the Senate on October 4, 1978, and received commission on October 5, 1978. Served as chief judge, 1985-1992. Assumed senior status on December 30, 1992. Service terminated on August 18, 2015, due to death.
Education:
Creighton University School of Law, LL.B., 1948
Professional Career:
U.S. Army lieutenant, Air Corps, 1942-1945
Private practice, Sioux City, Iowa, 1948-1949, 1967-1978
Assistant city attorney, Sioux City, Iowa, 1949-1953
County attorney, Woodbury County, Iowa, 1955-1958
Judge, Sioux City [Iowa] Municipal Court, 1959-1960
U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, 1961-1967
Member, Judicial Conference of the United States, 1991-1997
The act of May 19, 1961, 75 Stat. 80, authorized one judgeship to serve the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa.
The act of December 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5089, assigned this judgeship to the Northern District of Iowa exclusively.