Edward Norman Cahn
Encyclopedia
Edward Norman Cahn is a former United States federal judge
.
Cahn was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
. He attended Lehigh University
, where he played basketball and set a record by becoming the first Lehigh student to score 1,000 points; he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A.
in 1955. Cahn continued to Yale Law School
, where he earned an LL.B. in 1958. After graduation from law school, he entered private practice in Allentown, and began service as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Corporal. He left the service in 1964.
On November 18, 1974, President Gerald Ford
appointed Cahn a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 18, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. Cahn became chief judge in 1993. He retired on December 31, 1998, and is now of counsel
to Blank Rome
.
On August 20, 2001, the Edward N. Cahn Federal Building and United States Courthouse was renamed in his honor.
He was appointed and approved as Chapter 11 case trustee for the SCO Group
on August 25, 2009.
On August 6, 2010, Judge Cahn was appointed hearing officer to the Delaware River Basin Commission to mediate the controversy surrounding Marcellus Shale Gas development in the Delaware River watershed. His tenure in this position raised controversy when investigative journalist, Nora Eisenberg, described conflict of interest created by the role of Cahn's law firm Blank Rome, as an advocate for the industry trade association, Marcellus Shale Coalition.
Eisenberg's investigation describes:
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Cahn was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. He attended Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
, where he played basketball and set a record by becoming the first Lehigh student to score 1,000 points; he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1955. Cahn continued to Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, where he earned an LL.B. in 1958. After graduation from law school, he entered private practice in Allentown, and began service as a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Corporal. He left the service in 1964.
On November 18, 1974, President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
appointed Cahn a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 18, 1974, and received his commission on December 20, 1974. Cahn became chief judge in 1993. He retired on December 31, 1998, and is now of counsel
Of counsel
Of counsel is often the title of an attorney who is employed by a law firm or an organization, but is not an associate or a partner. Some firms use titles like "counsel," "special counsel," and "senior counsel" for the same concept...
to Blank Rome
Blank Rome
Blank Rome LLP, formerly known as Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley, is a full-service international law and government affairs firm. It is ranked as the 84th largest law firm in the United States in terms of revenue, according to the AmLaw 100 Survey...
.
On August 20, 2001, the Edward N. Cahn Federal Building and United States Courthouse was renamed in his honor.
He was appointed and approved as Chapter 11 case trustee for the SCO Group
SCO Group
TSG Group, Inc. is a software company formerly called The SCO Group, Caldera Systems, and Caldera International. After acquiring the Santa Cruz Operation's Server Software and Services divisions, as well as UnixWare and OpenServer technologies, the company changed its focus to UNIX...
on August 25, 2009.
On August 6, 2010, Judge Cahn was appointed hearing officer to the Delaware River Basin Commission to mediate the controversy surrounding Marcellus Shale Gas development in the Delaware River watershed. His tenure in this position raised controversy when investigative journalist, Nora Eisenberg, described conflict of interest created by the role of Cahn's law firm Blank Rome, as an advocate for the industry trade association, Marcellus Shale Coalition.
Eisenberg's investigation describes:
- On August 6, 2010, the same day Judge Cahn was recommended as hearing officer by Delaware Governor-Elect, Jack Markell, Blank Rome partner Lynn McKay, co-published with Marcellus Shale Coalition president and executive director Kathryn Klaber, a Q&A article on the Marcellus Shale for the webzine of an industry group, the Women's Council on Energy and the Environment (WCCE).
- On October 10, 2010, Blank Rome sent internal email to employees stating that there were opportunities for the firm in the Marcellus Shale and that the firm was pursuing them. Judge Cahn wrote back saying he was involved in a hearing about the Marcellus.
- On January 18, Judge Cahn emailed DRBC secretary and assistant general counsel Pam Bush, stating that he had just seen Blank Rome's associate membership in the Marcellus Shale Coalition listed on the firm's Web site. He expressed his embarrassment and regret and his willingness to recuse himself from further involvement with the DRBC hearing process should that be requested.