Priscilla Owen was born on October 4, 1954 in Palacios, Texas. Her father died of polio when she was ten months old. When Priscilla was five, her mother re-married and moved to Waco. Her mother, three sisters and one brother still reside there. Her stepfather died in 1983. She spent many summers with her uncles on their farms. It was there that she learned to work hard and cultivated a love for animals.
Priscilla attended Richfield High School and following graduation she left for the University of Texas at Austin. After living in Austin for a year, she returned to Baylor University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude. She also received a Juris Doctor, cum laude from Baylor Law School in 1977. Her hard work paid off when she achieved the highest among her classmates. She was also a member of the Baylor Law Review. She began her law career in 1978 at Andrews Kurth where she worked for seventeen years.
The Political Scene
In 1995, she ran for justice on the Texas Supreme Court. Running as a conservative, she received an overwhelming 84 percent of the vote. Justice Owen also served as the liaison to the Supreme Court of Texas’ Court Annexed Meditation Talk Force.
In May of 2001, Ms. Owen was nominated for the Fifth Circuit. She passed the justice committee review, but her full confirmation was withheld due to a Senate filibuster. The US Senate voted to confirm her as justice (55-43) on May 25, 2005.
“I applaud the Senate for voting to confirm Justice Priscilla Owen,” the president said in a White House press release. “She has served with distinction on the Supreme Court of Texas, has demonstrated that she strictly interprets the law, and brings a wealth of experience to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit…”
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) on May 23, 2005 about Ms. Owen, “...they will quickly learn that she is a person of integrity, humility and possesses a keen understanding of the law. (snip)
“Priscilla Owen will uphold the law, not make the law. Some find this to be a problem. I find this to be a blessing.”
During her wait to be confirmed, Owen was repeatedly rebuked for her conservative stance on certain issues such as abortion. She has literally angered abortion rights advocates. Through it all, Owen has handled the criticism with ease.
“Priscilla Owen is an experienced jurist of integrity who embodies the qualities we seek in our federal judges. Despite an exemplary public record, Priscilla Owen has been targeted by special interest groups, her view mischaracterized and her opinions distorted. She has endured baseless criticism and empty charges with poise, validating her even more as an outstanding, qualified nominee who should be confirmed by the Unite States Senate.” —Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Owen’s character is impeccable, not only in overlooking those who criticize her, but by obeying the laws as Texas Supreme Court justice.
“She’s what Bush said (in nominating her): She tries to follow the legislative will in every case and apply the law, not invent it.”
Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips
From her modest beginnings in the Texas to her tumultuous nomination in Washington, Priscilla has demonstrated the quiet determination, intellect, and patience to handle the job. Despite her detractors, she has persevered. These attributes, along with her academic and career achievements, more than qualify her for the position of justice on the Court of Appeals.
Hi Kristin. This was a very informative article. I’d never heard of her. LOL, I would’ve thought (unless I’d seen what you wrote) that she was a Puritan homemaker or something! :)