Judge Avern Cohn
Any lawyer or reporter who has spent time in federal court in downtown Detroit can offer a description of U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn.
A character. Extremely bright. Opinionated. Funny. Engaging. Mercurial.
That's just a few. He's also a fan of the city. He was spotted on a recent Saturday night at the orginal Buddy's Pizza at McNichols and Conant.
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Ashenfelter, who left the Detroit Free Press last September, provides a detailed snapshot of the 88-year-old judge in Bridge Magazine.
Ashenfelter writes:
At 88 years of age, Cohn is the oldest active federal district judge in Michigan. Though he now needs a cane to get around, his mind is as quick as ever, say lawyers, prosecutors and court workers. He still carries a full caseload, his staff struggles to keep up with him and Cohn says he has no plans to retire.
Ashenfelter writes that the judge has notes on the bench in court to remind him of a few things.
Some of those notes include:
- “Always remember that lawyers have as much right to be in the courtroom as the judge!” one note reads.
-
“He who angers you controls you.”
- “No matter how high the throne, there sits but an ass!”
