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are t ey

For 60 years, Jewish Detroiters have
graced the pages of the Jewish News.
Here's an update on a few of them.

RONELLE GRIER

Special to the IN SourceBook

Avern Cohn: Doctor Or A Lawyer?

f Private Avern Cohn had followed the career advice of the U.S. Army, the metropolitan Detroit community
I would have gained a doctor instead of a judge. Upon his enlistment in 1944, Cohn was assigned to a pre-
medical program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif
But, once he was discharged from the Army in 1946, Cohn had a better idea. He left Stanford to enter law
school at the University of Michigan, where he had done undergraduate work prior to his enlistment.
"I felt I was better equipped to be a lawyer than a doctor," said Cohn, who is a senior judge of the
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, where he has served for almost 23 years.
Pvt. Cohn Sent
To Stanford U.
"My late father (Irwin Cohn) was a lawyer, and I always anticipated going into practice with him.
Pvt. Averts Cohn. son of Mr.
sad Mrs. Irwin L Cohn of 18450 That is precisely what I did, although at the time I never anticipated becoming a federal judge."
/airfield Ave., is now attending
Judge Cohn has always taken an active role in the Jewish community; in 1950, he was chosen to
pre-medical school at Leland
Stanford U n i -
varsity in Palo chair the Junior Division of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, and later served as
Alto, Calif., by
special ass ign-
ment made by Federation president in 1982-83. He is affiliated with Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Temple Beth El,
0111
the U. S. Army.
en
A graduate of The Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, Congregation T'Chiyah and Congregation B'nai Israel in
rd
Central High
in
School, Pvt.
Cohn studied at Petoskey.
t h e University
1
Pvt. Cohn of Michigan for
Judge Cohen resides in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Lois. He has three children and seven
if; a year and a half before hip
:r': enlistment.
grandchildren.
Popular in many local ar

-

1 ties, Pvt. Cohn is knowr
r many former Tamakv
as one of their
counselorg

Judge Paul Borman:

Granting Citizenship

udge Paul D. Borman describes his position as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern
Paul Borman Runs
District of Michigan as "the best job in the world."
"I didn't plan on it, but good lightning struck," said Judge Borman, who started his legal for City Position
Charter
career as an assistant to then-U.S. Attorney Larry Gubow, who later became a federal judge. to Paul Rewrite
D. Borman, assistant dean
and associate professor of Wayne
"I have the same courtroom and chambers that he used, and his picture still hangs on
State University's law school, ape
chatting in urban and crimina
my wall," said Borman. "He was a great inspiration to me.
law, has announced his candidac
for the Detroit Charter Comm'
sion.
Prior to becoming a federal judge in 1994, Judge Borman was a federal defender for the
"I am a candidate for the Ci
Charter Commission, because
Eastern District, which he says was a wonderful opportunity.
am Interested in the future
Detroit," Borman says. "The nee
for a new Charter Commission
One of Judge Borman's favorite duties is to swear in new citizens, which he does several
overhaul the 52 year old chart
is evident"
times a year.
A resident of the 13th Congre
sainodnalluDistrict
This is very meaningful to me because of my own background," said Judge Borman,
dent of the city
whose parents, Tom and Sarah Borman, emigrated to the United States from Eastern
f Detroit, Bor-
man holds a
bachelor of arts
Europe.
and bachelor of
laws degrees
Throughout his career, Judge Borman has been active in the Jewish community, serving
from the Univer-
sity of Michigan
as past president of the Allied Jewish Campaign and the Jewish Community Council of
and a masters of
laws degree from
the Yale Law
Metropolitan Detroit, in addition to participating with various other organizations.
School.
He served as
"I've always been proud of my Jewishness," he said.
the only attorney

j

"

on former Mayor
Jerome Cava-
nagh's personal
Borman
'aff and also
NI as s special counsel to
..1100 - mt team,
m.
den °:he

1 8 •

SOURCEBOOK 2002-2003 • JN