[5] While the Taft Administration came to an end in March 1913 after his defeat in the presidential election of the previous year, Fowler was retained as a special assistant by Woodrow Wilson's first attorney general, James C.

[1] Following McReynolds' nomination to the Supreme Court in August 1914, Fowler returned to private practice in Knoxville.

[7] Daugherty initially tasked Fowler with handling the federal government's cases arising from New York's Lockwood investigations, which involved acts of extortion committed by the leaders of building materials unions.

He later handled several Supreme Court cases, including Federal Trade Commission v. American Tobacco Co. (1924),[8] United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar,[9] and United States v. General Electric Co.

[10] Fowler was elected to Knoxville's city council in 1927, and chosen as mayor by his fellow councilmen.

[1] Fowler received the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1928, but was defeated in the general election by Kenneth McKellar.

His lawfirm, renamed Fowler and Fowler after his sons joined, continued operating in Knoxville under various partners for several years after his death,[1] and his descendants continued practicing law in the Knoxville area into the 21st century.