Mr. Owen received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University in 1977.  In 1980 The University of San Diego School of Law awarded him a Juris Doctor Degree.  Mr. Owen has been admitted to practice law before the Illinois Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of California.  From 1982 to 2001 he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Cook County, IL.  

While in the State’s Attorney’s office, Mr. Owen was a Felony Trial Assistant before moving up to supervisory positions.  He was a member of the Gang Prosecutions Unit from 1991 to 1994 and during that time he was responsible for filing and prosecution of gang related prosecutions in Chicago and suburbs.

From 1994 to 2001 he was the Division Chief, Delinquency, Juvenile Justice Bureau. During that time he supervised three trial Supervisors and 40 Assistant State’s Attorneys.  He has tried over 50 jury cases and appeared in court on thousands of matters both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. 

Mr. Owen participated in drafting the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1998 and testified in the Illinois legislature concerning the fiscal impact and various provisions of the Act.   He has been a certified instructor for the National District Attorneys Association and a presenter at the National Juvenile Justice Conference.