O'Brien was born in Marcus, Iowa to Michael J. and Myrtle O'Brien on September 30, 1923. He interrupted his college coursework at Trinity College in Sioux City, Iowa to serve as a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. He flew 30 bombing missions over Europe and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.[2] After completing his undergraduate studies at Trinity College, he entered Creighton University School of Law, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Laws. He was in private practice in Sioux City from 1948 to 1949, before becoming an assistant city attorney of Sioux City in 1949. He married Ruth Mahon in 1950. In 1952 he chaired the Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign in his Iowa congressional district.[3] After serving as the County Attorney of Woodbury County, Iowa from 1955 to 1958, he served as a Sioux City municipal judge from 1959 to 1960.
From 1962 to 1979 Iowa had three federal district judges — one in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, one in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and a third serving both Districts. On September 27, 1978 Carter nominated O'Brien to succeed Judge William C. Hanson in the third of those positions. O'Brien was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 4, 1978, and received his commission on October 5, 1978. O'Brien presided in the western and central divisions of both Districts until December 1, 1990, when he began to serve exclusively in the Northern District as a new judgeship was added in the Southern District. He served as Chief Judge of the Northern District from 1985 to 1992. O'Brien assumed senior status on December 30, 1992, and continued to preside over cases from chambers in Sioux City, until his death on August 18, 2015, in Sioux City.[10]
References
^Richard T. Cooper, "Kennedy Men Take Over in S.D., Give Party New Life," Des Moines Register, July 19, 1968, p. 10
^"Form Iowa Group for Stevenson," Council Bluffs Nonpareil, April 6, 1952, p. 1
^"Here is Candidate List for November 4 Election," Sioux Center News, June 5, 1958, 1, 10; "O'Brien to Address World War I Vets in Cherokee, Tues.," Sioux County Capital, September 22, 1960, p. 19
^"County Resists State Democratic Trend," Sioux County Capital, November 6, 1958, p. 1; Editorial, "The Jacks Have It," Alton Democrat, November 17, 1960, p. 2
^"Sueppel Heads Iowa Group for Kennedy," Iowa City Press Citizen, April 1, 1968, 17
^"How Iowa Delegates Stand," Des Moines Sunday Register, August 25, 1968, p. 4-L
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