Eugene Edward Siler, Jr.

Eugene Edward Siler Jr. (born October 19, 1936) is a Senior United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and a former United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

Early life and education

Siler was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, to Lowell (Jones) and Eugene Siler. His father was a United States Congressman, serving as a representative from Kentucky's 8th Congressional District from 1955 to 1963. Following the 8th district's elimination, he represented Kentucky's 5th Congressional District from 1963 to 1965. Previously, his father had also been elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals and was the Republican nominee for governor in the 1951 Kentucky Gubernatorial election.

Siler received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vanderbilt University in 1958, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1963, and a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1964.

He joined the United States Navy as a Midshipman in 1957. The next year, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve, and saw active duty from 1958 to 1960. He would remain in the reserves until his retirement in 1983 at the rank of commander.

Career

Whitley County After graduating from Georgetown in 1964, Siler returned to Williamsburg and entered into a private law practice with his father. The next year, he was elected as Whitley County Attorney, a position he would hold until he was commission into federal service in 1970. He received his commission the next year, and served until 1975.