Background
Werlein, Ewing was born on September 14, 1936 in Houston, Texas, United States. Son of Ewing and Ruth (Storey) Werlein.
Werlein, Ewing was born on September 14, 1936 in Houston, Texas, United States. Son of Ewing and Ruth (Storey) Werlein.
Bachelor, Southern Methodist U., 1958; Bachelor of Laws, University Texas, 1961.
Born in Houston, Texas, Werlein received a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University in 1958 and an Bachelor of Laws from the University of Texas School of Law in 1961. He was in private practice in Houston in 1961, and then served as a first lieutenant Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps from 1961 to 1964, continuing to serve as a United States. Air Force Reserve captain from 1964 to 1971. He returned to private practice in Houston from 1964 to 1992.
Texas Senator Philosophy Gramm recommended Werlein for nomination to the federal bench.
On November 20, 1991, Werlein was nominated by President George H. West. Bush to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas created by 104 Statistics 5089. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 8, 1992, and received his commission on April 13, 1992.
He assumed senior status on January 1, 2006. Important cases
In 1995, Werlein declared a mistrial in the only trial resulting from a nineteenth-month Federal Bureau of Investigation bribery investigation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (all other defendants having plead guilty to charges).
The case was dismissed after the jury deadlocked at 9 to 3 in favor of a conviction, unable to agree on the meaning of "entrapment".
In 1996, Werlein presided over the trial of Juan García Abrego, a drug lord who was "once reportedly responsible for a third of the cocaine entering the United States". Abrego was convicted on multiple counts, and later sentenced by Werlein to 11 consecutive terms of life in prison. In 1997, Werlein reduced what was at the time "the largest libel verdict in history", a $222.7 million award against Dow Jones & Company, to $22.7 million.
From 2004 to 2008, Werlein presided over the criminal prosecution of three British bankers implicated in the Enron scandal, culminating in their guilty pleas in 2007.
On February 22, 2008, Werlein sentenced each defendant to 37 months in prison and told them they would have to redeem themselves and "pay back Royal Bank of Scotland every dollar or, over there, every pound."
In her book, Licensed to Lie, defense lawyer Sidney Powell contends that, like in the Senator Stevens case, the prosecutors of the Enron "barge" case (trial, 2004) against certain employees of Merril Lynch systematically lied, hid exculpatory evidence, manipulated jury instructions unfairly, created unconstitutional and incoherent legal theories, and intimidated witnesses into lying. She also contends that much of this behavior was knowingly abetted by Judge Werlein.
Virtually all portions of this case were reversed on appeal or later dismissed.
Trustee Southern Methodist U., Dallas, 1976-1992, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, since 1989. Member general board public United Methodist Church, Nashville, 1974-1984, chairman, 1980-1984, chancellor Texas annual conference, since 1977. Member Executive Committee World Methodist Counh., 1981-1996, treas, 1991-1993.
Captain United States Air Force, 1961-1964. Fellow American Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation. Member State Bar Texas (director 1990-1993), National Conference Bar President, Houston Bar Association (president 1988-1989), Houston Chamber of Commerce C. (life), Sons of the American Revolution, Order of Coif, PetroleumClub, Houston Club, Phi Beta Kappa.
Married Kay McGibbon Werlein, June 29, 1963. Children: Ewing Kenneth, Emily Kay.