Avern Cohn (born July 23, 1924) is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter effective October 9, 1979.
Judge Cohn was born to Irwin I. and Sadie Levin Cohn. He attended the University of Michigan, John Tarleton Agricultural College, Stanford University, and Loyola School of Medicine. He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. He received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1949. He was admitted to the Michigan State Bar in December, 1949.
Judge Cohn engaged in private practice in the Law Office of Irwin I. Cohn from 1949 to 1961; and at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn from 1961 to 1979. Judge Cohn held the following public positions: Michigan Social Welfare Commission, 1963; Michigan Civil Rights Commission, 1972-1975 and served as Chair 1974-1975; Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, 1975-1979 and served as Chair 1979.
Judge Cohn is a member of several bar associations including: Detroit Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan; Federal Circuit Bar Association; Federal Bar Association; American Bar Association; Chairperson, Special Committee on Court Congestion, State Bar of Michigan, 1977-1978; Representative Assembly, State Bar of Michigan, 1973-1979; Past Trustee, Detroit Bar Association Foundation; Past Director, Detroit Bar Association; member, American Law Institute; Director, American Judicature Society.
Judge Cohn has been active in numerous organizations in political, secular and Jewish life. He is a past President of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and has served for 14 years as General Chairperson of the Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Annual Dinner. He has three children and seven grandchildren.
Judge Cohn was the Judge in the Wiper patent infringement case that let auto corporations escape lawsuits because the plaintiff Robert Kearns missed a deadline. [1]