OWEN, PRISCILLA RICHMAN (1954~) Priscilla Richman Owen, state and federal judge, was born October 4, 1954, in Palacios, Texas. She later earned her bachelor of arts degree from Baylor University and her doctor of jurisprudence degree in 1977, from the Baylor University School of Law, where she ranked in the top of her graduating class.

Before her election to the Supreme Court of Texas, Justice Owen was a partner in the Houston firm of Andrews & Kurth, L.L.P. where she practiced commercial litigation for seventeen years. She was admitted to practice before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Circuits. Justice Owen was chosen as Baylor Young Lawyer of the Year and one of Baylor's Outstanding Young Alumna. She is a member of the American Law Institute and served as the Supreme Court's liaison to the Texas Legal Services for the Poor Special Committee, and the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court-Annexed Mediations.

Justice Owen was elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in 1994 and was reelected in 2000. However, she later resigned from the court following her May 25, 2005 confirmation by the U.S. Senate as Judge on the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Justice Owen took her oath of office on Monday, June 6, 2005, in a private ceremony in the Supreme Court courtroom with her hand on the Sam Houston Bible, which was held by her mother, Phyllis Derrick. Her oath of office was administered by fellow Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Hecht.

Information taken from: Supreme Court of Texas, Justice Profiles, http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/about/justices.asp; "Justice Owen Takes Oath As Fifth Circuit Judge", Texas Supreme Court Advisory, Monday, June 6, 2005, http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/advisories/Owen_federal_ceremony_060605.htm.