Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Farnan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from King's College in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1970.
He was a Director of the Criminal Justice Program at Wilmington College in New Castle, Delaware from 1970 to 1972.
He was the United States Attorney for the District of Delaware from 1981 to 1985.
[1] On June 21, 1985, Farnan was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware created by 98 Stat.
[1] He retired on July 31, 2010, having become the longest-serving member of the federal bench in Delaware.