Joseph James Farnan, Jr.

Who is Joseph James Farnan, Jr.?

Joseph James Farnan, Jr. is a former United States federal judge.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Farnan received a B.A. from King's College in 1967 and a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1970. He was a Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Wilmington College in New Castle, Delaware from 1970 to 1972. He was an assistant public defender for the State of Delaware from 1972 to 1975, and was also in private practice in Wilmington, Delaware from 1972 to 1976. He was county attorney of New Castle County, Delaware from 1976 to 1979, and was chief deputy attorney general of the state of Delaware from 1979 to 1981. He was the United States Attorney for the District of Delaware from 1981 to 1985.

On June 21, 1985, Farnan was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware created by 98 Stat. 333. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 16, 1985, and received his commission on July 18, 1985. He served as chief judge from 1996 to 2000. He retired on July 31, 2010, having become the longest-serving member of the federal bench in Delaware.