Julian Owen Forrester died Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at age 75. Judge Forrester had served as a District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta, since January 4, 1982. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan on the recommendation of Senator Mack Mattingly after serving five years as a federal Magistrate Judge for the same court. From 1969 to 1976 he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
Owen was born on April 27, 1939, in Columbus, Georgia, to Wallace Redmond Forrester of Leesburg and Helen Willis Owen of Waverly Hall. The family moved to Atlanta in 1947, and Owen attended E. Rivers Elementary School and Northside High School, where he won the Atlanta Journal Cup for the outstanding all-around student in the graduating class of 1957. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology on a Navy scholarship and graduated in 1961. While in college he was emcee of "Dance Party," a television program on Atlanta's NBC affiliate modeled on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand." Owen acted as a stand-in for Clark on "American Bandstand" twice in 1959 and 1960. In his senior year at Tech, he was president of Beta Theta Pi, was co-emcee of an Atlanta television program for Junior Achievement, and edited "The Rambler," a humor magazine that received a national journalism award for the best feature magazine published by an American college in 1961.
After graduation from Tech, Owen became an investment analyst with Trust Company Bank of Georgia while attending the evening division of Emory Law School. Upon graduation he joined Bo Callaway's campaign staff for his race for governor in 1966. After a year in politics, he joined the law firm of Fisher & Phillips, where he practiced labor law until 1969, when he joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta. While there he headed one of the first drug enforcement task forces in the Southeast, and in 1973, he became First Assistant United States Attorney in charge of the criminal division.
During his tenure as a federal district judge, Judge Forrester served on the Committee on Automation and Technology of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1990 to 1997, including three years as its chairman, where he was an early advocate for the automation of judicial chambers and electronic case filing. He was also the Eleventh Circuit District Judge Representative to the Judicial Conference of the United States from 2002 to 2005, and was appointed by Chief Justice William Rehnquist to serve on the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference from 2003 to 2005. He became a senior judge in 2004.
Among Judge Forrester's most notable cases was the federal habeas corpus petition of Georgia death row inmate Warren McCleskey, whose case involved the use of statistical evidence to challenge a capital sentence as racially discriminatory and was eventually decided by the Supreme Court in 1987. In 1987, Judge Forrester sentenced a California businessman to fifteen years in federal prison and fined him $6.6 million for violating federal export laws in the sale of two C-130 military transport airplanes to undercover agents of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Judge Forrester presided over the 2002 trial of two men who were convicted in the country's first prosecution under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, for human trafficking in the prostitution of girls as young as twelve years old. He also handled the 2006 criminal case of a former employee of the Coca-Cola Company for attempting to sell the corporation's trade secrets.
Owen was a very patriotic man with a strong ethical code and always felt a tremendous sense of pride serving his country through the judicial system. He thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of the court community and cherished the opportunity to mentor his law clerks.
Personally, Owen was truly a renaissance man, enjoying poetry, classical music, a love of cooking, traveling the world with his wife, wood-smoked BBQ, Georgia Tech football, and the outdoors through hunting and fishing. Additionally, he and his wife have been members of The Church of the Apostles for the last 25 years.
Owen is survived by his wife of 43 years, the former Linda Vaughn Myrick, and by two sons, Rob (Rachel) Forrester and Randy (Paisley) Forrester, and five grandchildren, Charlotte and Ford Forrester, and Azure, Julian, and Clive Forrester.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening July 8 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son Spring Hill Chapel. Funeral services will be held Wednesday July 9 at 10 a.m. at The Church of The Apostles, 3585 Northside Parkway, Atlanta GA 30327 with a reception afterwards. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Georgia Tech Alumni Association (Georgia Tech Foundation, 190 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30313) or The Church of the Apostles (3585 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta, GA 30327).
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
October 31, 2014
Rob Boas
Linda---Suzanne and I were out of town when Owen died and we just now learned of his passing through the Emory alumni magazine. We were so sorry to get this news. As you know, Owen made a huge difference in our lives since he gave me my first job in Atlanta. He was also a wonderful mentor to me during the years we worked together in the U.S. Attorney's office. Albeit belatedly, please accept our deepest condolences on his passing. He was a fine man.
August 3, 2014
Jo Horne
Linda: My condolences to you and the family on the passing of Judge Forrester. I worked for him in the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement and the U. S. Attorney's Office. He will be missed by many who knew him personally and those who knew him as a fair and competent Judge. May God give all of you comfort on your loss.
July 22, 2014
irene rev.21:4
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
July 15, 2014
Barb
God heals the brokenhearted; He binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3). With deepest sympathy.
July 14, 2014
My condolences to you the family and hope you find comfort and strength through friends, family and God's word the bible,rom.15;5.
July 14, 2014
Barb
I'm sorry for your loss and may you find comfort in Gods inspired word the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).
July 14, 2014
Offering my deepest condolences. ( Ps 46 : 1 )
July 12, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
July 12, 2014
(Ezek. 18:31) In time he sent his Son to die on behalf of mankind so that those who would put faith in this provision might enjoy everlasting life.—John 3:1
July 10, 2014
cooper
Deepest Sympathy,
May you find comfort in these words Act 25:15
July 10, 2014
Linda,
I want to express my deepest sympathy to you and your family with Owen's passing. My thoughts go back to when I knew you both a very long time ago. My daughter, Lisa, was 5 at the time and still remembers him as "a nice man". My husband passed away a year ago from cancer and I know the pain you are going through. May God be with you and your family.
Dawn Alexander Ferrara
July 10, 2014
irene
God is near to all those calling on him, Psalm 147:3, 145:18 may the God of all comfort be with your family and may your your cherish memories of your loved one be a healing force of strength for your family to draw on. With deepest Sympathy I share your sorrow.
July 10, 2014
Reed
Offering my deepest condolences to Mr Forrester family. May God grant you strength and courage as you face the coming days.
July 9, 2014
Bobbie Garner
LINDA, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP SORROW TO YOU ON THE PASSING OF OWEN. I REMEMBER A PARTY AT YOUR HOME WITH MY MOTHER AND FRANK AND I AND IT WAS SUCH FUN. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND I KNOW GOD WILL SUPPLY YOUR EVERY NEED IN THE DAYS AHEAD. BLESSINGS, BOBBIE
July 8, 2014
David Myers
Judge Forrester had a huge impact on me. He is the reason I have been in Atlanta for almost all of my professional life. He taught me about the South, about Georgia, about Atlanta, about dive lunches, and about gourmet food. He introduced me to R.C. Sproul, with significant consequences for my spiritual growth. He counseled me on career decisions. And he consoled me in the aftermath of a miscarriage and, much later, an unwanted divorce. He was a very good man in all these ways. I thank God for him. I'll miss him.
July 8, 2014
Ginny King
Linda, Although I did not know Owen personally, Mike and Debbie have always kept me up to date on the travels, gourmet meals and special family time spent with you and Owen. You and your family are in my prayers during this difficult time.
July 7, 2014
Sandra Lee
Owen and his family, friends and law clerks coming for lunch at Raintree Farms in Waverly Hall was always a wonderful occasion. Anytime any of the family came by was a blessing. I was very fond of him. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sandi Lee (Waverly Hall, GA)
July 7, 2014
Mark and April
Dear Linda,
My sister and I have never met Owen but, we wanted to take a moment and simply express just how much we, and hundreds of our fellow military families, are SO very, very grateful for how he stood up to the federal government concerning the Camp Lejeune water contamination case. He did the right thing to help thousands that were wronged for SO many decades. Our mom (who passed because of the bad water in 1981) met Owen in heaven when he left your arms here on Earth. Be strong Linda, Owen is in VERY good hands now. God bless you.
July 7, 2014
Linda My thoughts are with you at this time. Looking forward to seeing you at class. fondly Roz Aussenberg
July 3, 2014
Caroly Howard
Linda,
You and your wonderful family are in our prayers. You have been a true blessing to Owen. Love you so much!
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