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Dowdell Takes Oath

Kathleen Manning

John Dowdell takes the oath of office as a US District Court Judge in Tulsa. He was sworn in yesterday. Dowdell was nominated to the post by President Obama. He replaced Terence Kern in a seat that has been vacant for nearly three years. His confirmation was approved by the US Senate earlier this month on a 95-0 vote.

Dowdell was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he attended Bishop Kelley High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978 from Wake Forest University.  He received his Juris Doctorate in 1981 from the TU College of Law. He served as a law clerk for Judge William Holloway of the 10th Circuit Appeals Court from 1981 to 1983. He joined the law firm of Norman, Wohlgemuth, Chandler & Dowdell, P.C., in Tulsa in 1983, becoming partner in 1987. He handles civil and criminal matters in both trial and appellate courts. Since 1999, he has served on a pro bono basis as an Adjunct Settlement Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.