D. Lowell Jensen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lowell Jensen
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office June 27, 1997 – October 31, 2014
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office June 25, 1986 – June 27, 1997
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	William H. Orrick Jr.
Succeeded by	Charles Breyer
21st United States Deputy Attorney General
In office 1985–1986
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Carol E. Dinkins
Succeeded by	Arnold Burns
United States Associate Attorney General
In office 1983–1985
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Rudy Giuliani
Succeeded by	Arnold Burns
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division
In office 1981–1983
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Philip Heymann
Succeeded by	Stephen S. Trott
Personal details
Born	Delwen Lowell Jensen (1928-06-03) June 3, 1928 (age 97) Brigham City, Utah, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA, JD)

Delwen Lowell Jensen (born June 3, 1928) is an American lawyer and former federal judge. He served as a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. He had a long career helping to uphold laws in the United States.

Who Was Lowell Jensen?

Lowell Jensen was an important figure in the American legal system. He worked as a lawyer and later became a judge. His career involved many different roles, from working in local government to serving at the national level.

Early Life and Education

Lowell Jensen was born on June 3, 1928, in Brigham City, Utah. He went to the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his first degree there in 1949. Later, he received his law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1952.

After finishing his studies, Jensen served in the United States Army. He was a Corporal from 1952 to 1954. After his military service, he worked as a private lawyer in Oakland, California, for a short time.

A Career in Law

Lowell Jensen spent many years working as a lawyer for the government. He started as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California. He held this position from 1955 to 1966.

He then became an assistant district attorney for Alameda County. This role lasted from 1966 to 1969. From 1969 to 1981, he was the District Attorney of Alameda County. In this role, he was in charge of prosecuting legal cases for the county.

During his time as District Attorney, Jensen helped develop new ways to manage legal cases. He worked on a system called DALITE. This system helped organize legal information, making the work of the district attorney's office more efficient.

Working for the Government

Lowell Jensen moved on to work for the United States Department of Justice. This is a very important part of the U.S. government that enforces laws. From 1981 to 1983, he was the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division. This meant he helped oversee criminal investigations and prosecutions across the country.

He continued to rise in the Department of Justice. From 1983 to 1985, he served as the United States Associate Attorney General. This was a high-level position, helping to manage the entire department. Then, from 1985 to 1986, he was the United States Deputy Attorney General. This is one of the top positions in the Department of Justice, second only to the Attorney General.

Becoming a Federal Judge

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Lowell Jensen to become a federal judge. He was chosen to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. This court handles many important legal cases in that region.

The United States Senate approved his nomination on June 24, 1986. He officially became a judge on June 25, 1986. He served as a judge for many years. On June 27, 1997, he took on a special role called senior status. This means a judge can reduce their workload but still hear cases. He fully retired from the court on October 31, 2014.