Donald Eugene O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Donald Eugene O'Brien is a United States district judge, in service since 1978, now on senior status
. He was an officer in the United States Army Air Corps
in World War II
, a Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, a United States Attorney
, and a valued political organizer.
O'Brien was born in Marcus, Iowa
to Michael J. and Myrtle O'Brien on September 30, 1923. He interrupted his college coursework at Trinity College in Sioux City, Iowa
to serve as a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. He flew 30 bombing missions over Europe and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross
. After completing his undergraduate studies at Trinity College, he entered Creighton University School of Law
, graduating in 1948 with an LL.B. degree. He was in private practice in Sioux City from 1948 to 1949, before becoming an assistant city attorney of Sioux City in 1949. He married Ruth Mahon in 1950. In 1952 he chaired the Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign in his Iowa congressional district. After serving as the County Attorney
of Woodbury County, Iowa
from 1955 to 1958, he served as a Sioux City municipal judge from 1959 to 1960.
In 1958 and again in 1960, O'Brien was the Democratic nominee to represent Iowa's 8th congressional district
in the U.S. House, but was lost both races to longtime Republican incumbent Charles B. Hoeven
. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy
appointed him the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
, a position he held until 1967. Soon after leaving office, he became a valued advance man in the 1968 presidential campaigns of Robert F. Kennedy
, then George McGovern
, and later Hubert H. Humphrey. He was in private practice in Sioux City, Iowa
from 1967 to 1978. He organized McGovern's general election campaign in Southern California in 1972 and Jimmy Carter's general election campaign in Michigan in 1972. In 1977 he served as special counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business for its investigation of anti-competitive practices in the meat industry.
From 1962 to 1979, Iowa had three federal district judges — one in the Northern District, one in the Southern District
, and a third serving both Districts. On September 27, 1978, President Carter nominated O'Brien to succeed Judge William C. Hanson in the third of those positions. O'Brien was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 4, 1978, and received his commission on October 5, 1978. O'Brien presided in the western and central divisions of both Districts until December 1, 1990, when he began to serve exclusively in the Northern District as a new judgeship was added in the Southern District. He served as chief judge of the Northern District from 1985 to 1992.
O'Brien assumed senior status
on December 30, 1992, and continues to preside over cases from chambers in Sioux City.
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...
. He was an officer in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, a United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
, and a valued political organizer.
O'Brien was born in Marcus, Iowa
Marcus, Iowa
Marcus is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Marcus is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
to Michael J. and Myrtle O'Brien on September 30, 1923. He interrupted his college coursework at Trinity College in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
to serve as a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. He flew 30 bombing missions over Europe and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
. After completing his undergraduate studies at Trinity College, he entered Creighton University School of Law
Creighton University School of Law
Creighton University School of Law is a part of Creighton University. Founded in 1904, Creighton Law is one of 14 Jesuit Catholic law schools in the U.S. One out of every 10 American law students is enrolled in a Jesuit law school. Situated primarily in urban centers, these schools were...
, graduating in 1948 with an LL.B. degree. He was in private practice in Sioux City from 1948 to 1949, before becoming an assistant city attorney of Sioux City in 1949. He married Ruth Mahon in 1950. In 1952 he chaired the Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign in his Iowa congressional district. After serving as the County Attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
of Woodbury County, Iowa
Woodbury County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 102,172 in the county, with a population density of . There were 41,454 housing units, of which 39,052 were occupied.-2000 census:...
from 1955 to 1958, he served as a Sioux City municipal judge from 1959 to 1960.
In 1958 and again in 1960, O'Brien was the Democratic nominee to represent Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1963. The district was configured five times. Although the district encompassed four different areas of Iowa in its ninety-year existence, it was always predominantly rural, and elected a Republican lawyer to the United States House of...
in the U.S. House, but was lost both races to longtime Republican incumbent Charles B. Hoeven
Charles B. Hoeven
Charles Bernard Hoeven held elective office for forty consecutive years. He was elected or re-elected eleven times to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent districts in northern Iowa...
. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
appointed him the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over fifty-two of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa (in case citations, N.D. Iowa) has jurisdiction...
, a position he held until 1967. Soon after leaving office, he became a valued advance man in the 1968 presidential campaigns of Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, then George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
, and later Hubert H. Humphrey. He was in private practice in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
from 1967 to 1978. He organized McGovern's general election campaign in Southern California in 1972 and Jimmy Carter's general election campaign in Michigan in 1972. In 1977 he served as special counsel to a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business for its investigation of anti-competitive practices in the meat industry.
From 1962 to 1979, Iowa had three federal district judges — one in the Northern District, one in the Southern District
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (in case citations, S.D. Iowa) has...
, and a third serving both Districts. On September 27, 1978, President Carter nominated O'Brien to succeed Judge William C. Hanson in the third of those positions. O'Brien 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 October 4, 1978, and received his commission on October 5, 1978. O'Brien presided in the western and central divisions of both Districts until December 1, 1990, when he began to serve exclusively in the Northern District as a new judgeship was added in the Southern District. He served as chief judge of the Northern District from 1985 to 1992.
O'Brien assumed 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 December 30, 1992, and continues to preside over cases from chambers in Sioux City.
Sources
- Neil MillerNeil Miller (writer)Neil Miller is an American journalist and nonfiction writer, best known for his books on LGBT history and culture.- Life :Miller was born in Kingston, New York, in 1945 and graduated from Kingston High School and Brown University...
, Sex-Crime Panic: A Journey to the Paranoid Heart of the 1950s (NY: Alyson Books, 2002)