John Francis Cowan (December 29, 1858 – November 25, 1917) was a prominent North Dakota lawyer, politician, Attorney General, and judge.

While serving as the Judge of the Second Judicial District of North Dakota, Cowan became the first person in state history to face impeachment charges.

Cowan graduated from the Ottawa Normal School, and then studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

Cowan served as North Dakota's Attorney General until 1900, when he decided not to seek reelection again.

In 1911, during his time as a district judge, Cowan became the first person in state history to face impeachment charges.

For the first time in state history, in 1911, the North Dakota House of Representatives filed articles of impeachment against Cowan and forwarded them to the Senate.

[4] The allegations against Judge Cowan included things like habitual drunkenness, frequenting establishments where intoxicating liquors were sold (North Dakota was a "dry state" at the time), engaging in disorderly and boisterous conduct, speaking lewd and obscene words, assaulting a woman by attempting to forcibly kiss her, dismissing or ignoring motions and cases, deceiving the auditor, influencing jurors, intimidating attorneys, and sleeping during trials.