Senior U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan dies at age 89 [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Senior U.S. District Court Judge Leon Jordan died Tuesday morning. He was 89.

A native Tennessean, Jordan was tapped for the federal bench in the Eastern District of Tennessee in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. Jordan took the place of the late Robert L. Taylor.

Jordan presided over criminal and civil trials in the Knoxville federal courthouse. He took senior status in 2001, continued to hear cases for many years hence and was inactive at the time of his death.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Varlan paid tribute Tuesday to his colleague.

“Danni and I send our condolences to the entire Jordan family upon the passing of Judge Jordan. I had the honor of being nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to take Judge Jordan’s seat on …