United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
(N.D. Ill.)
Map indicating the changing Districts of Illinois
LocationEverett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse
(Chicago)
More locations
Appeals toSeventh Circuit
EstablishedFebruary 13, 1855
Judges23
Chief JudgeRebecca R. Pallmeyer
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyMorris Pasqual (acting)
U.S. MarshalLaDon A. Reynolds
www.ilnd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (in case citations, N.D. Ill.) is the federal trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois.

Appeals from the Northern District of Illinois are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The court is divided into two geographical divisions:

The eastern division includes Cook, DuPage, McHenry, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, La Salle, Lake, and Will counties. Its sessions are held in Chicago and Wheaton.

The western division includes Boone, Carroll, De Kalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago. Its sessions are held in Freeport and Rockford.

The United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The acting United States attorney is Morris Pasqual since March 12, 2023.[1]

History

The Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, one of four locations where the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois holds sessions.

The United States District Court for the District of Illinois was established by a statute passed by the United States Congress on March 3, 1819, 3 Stat. 502.[2][3] The act established a single office for a judge to preside over the court. Initially, the court was not within any existing judicial circuit, and appeals from the court were taken directly to the United States Supreme Court. In 1837, Congress created the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, placing it in Chicago, Illinois and giving it jurisdiction over the District of Illinois, 5 Stat. 176.[3]

The Northern District itself was created by a statute passed on February 13, 1855, 10 Stat. 606, which subdivided the District of Illinois into the Northern and the Southern Districts.[3] The boundaries of the District and the seats of the courts were set forth in the statute:

The counties of Hancock, McDonough, Peoria, Woodford, Livingston, and Iroquois, and all the counties in the said State north of them, shall compose one district, to be called the northern district of Illinois, and courts shall be held for the said district at the city of Chicago; and the residue of the counties of the said State shall compose another district, to be called the southern district of Illinois, and courts shall be held for the same at the city of Springfield.

The district has since been re-organized several times. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois was created on March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992,[3] by splitting counties out of the Northern and Southern Districts. It was later eliminated in a reorganization on October 2, 1978, which replaced it with a Central District, 92 Stat. 883,[3] formed primarily from parts of the Southern District, and returning some counties to the Northern District.

The Northern District of Illinois, which contains the entire Chicago metropolitan area, accounts for 1,531 of the 1,828 public corruption convictions in the state between 1976 and 2012, almost 84%, also making it the federal district with the most public corruption convictions in the nation between 1976 and 2012.[4]

Cases

It is one of the busiest federal trial courts in the nation. Famous cases have included those of Al Capone and the Chicago Eight.[5]

Current judges

As of December 26, 2023:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
71 Chief Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer Chicago 1954 1998–present 2019–present — Clinton
80 District Judge Virginia Mary Kendall Chicago 1962 2006–present — — G.W. Bush
82 District Judge Robert Michael Dow Jr. Chicago 1965 2007–present — — G.W. Bush
84 District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman Chicago 1960 2010–present — — Obama
85 District Judge Edmond E. Chang Chicago 1970 2010–present — — Obama
87 District Judge John Tharp Chicago 1960 2012–present — — Obama
89 District Judge Sara L. Ellis Chicago 1969 2013–present — — Obama
90 District Judge Andrea Wood Chicago 1973 2013–present — — Obama
91 District Judge Manish S. Shah Chicago 1972 2014–present — — Obama
92 District Judge Jorge L. Alonso Chicago 1966 2014–present — — Obama
93 District Judge John Robert Blakey Chicago 1965 2014–present — — Obama
94 District Judge Martha M. Pacold Chicago 1979 2019–present — — Trump
95 District Judge Mary M. Rowland Chicago 1961 2019–present — — Trump
96 District Judge Steven C. Seeger Chicago 1971 2019–present — — Trump
97 District Judge John F. Kness Chicago 1969 2020–present — — Trump
98 District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama Chicago 1962 2020–present — — Trump
99 District Judge Iain D. Johnston Rockford 1965 2020–present — — Trump
100 District Judge Nancy L. Maldonado Chicago 1975 2022–present — — Biden
101 District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins Chicago 1977 2023–present — — Biden
102 District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt Chicago 1970 2023–present — — Biden
103 District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel Chicago 1978 2023–present — — Biden
104 District Judge Jeffrey Cummings Chicago 1962 2023–present — — Biden
105 District Judge vacant — — — — — —
45 Senior Judge Marvin Aspen Chicago 1934 1979–2002 1995–2002 2002–present Carter
47 Senior Judge Charles P. Kocoras Chicago 1938 1980–2006 2002–2006 2006–present Carter
53 Senior Judge Charles Ronald Norgle Sr. inactive 1937 1984–2022 — 2022–present Reagan
57 Senior Judge Harry Leinenweber Chicago 1937 1985–2002 — 2002–present Reagan
60 Senior Judge Suzanne B. Conlon inactive 1939 1988–2004 — 2004–present Reagan
61 Senior Judge George M. Marovich inactive 1931 1988–2000 — 2000–present Reagan
64 Senior Judge Philip Godfrey Reinhard Rockford 1941 1992–2007 — 2007–present G.H.W. Bush
68 Senior Judge Robert Gettleman Chicago 1943 1994–2009 — 2009–present Clinton
69 Senior Judge Elaine E. Bucklo Chicago 1944 1994–2009 — 2009–present Clinton
70 Senior Judge Joan B. Gottschall Chicago 1947 1996–2012 — 2012–present Clinton
73 Senior Judge Matthew Kennelly Chicago 1956 1999–2021 — 2021–present Clinton
74 Senior Judge Ronald A. Guzman Chicago 1948 1999–2014 — 2014–present Clinton
75 Senior Judge Joan Lefkow Chicago 1944 2000–2012 — 2012–present Clinton
81 Senior Judge Frederick J. Kapala inactive 1950 2007–2019 — 2019–present G.W. Bush
88 Senior Judge Thomas M. Durkin Chicago 1953 2012–2023 — 2023–present Obama

Vacancies and pending nominations

On January 10, 2024, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Sunil Harjani to an unspecified seat.

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
8 Chicago Thomas M. Durkin Senior status December 26, 2023 – –
1 Rebecca R. Pallmeyer August 1, 2024[6] – –

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Thomas Drummond IL 1809–1890 1855–1869[Note 1] — — Taylor/Operation of law elevation to 7th Cir.
2 Henry Williams Blodgett IL 1821–1905 1870–1892 — — Grant retirement
3 Peter S. Grosscup IL 1852–1921 1892–1899 — — B. Harrison elevation to 7th Cir.
4 Christian Cecil Kohlsaat IL 1844–1918 1899–1905 — — McKinley elevation to 7th Cir.
5 Solomon Hicks Bethea IL 1852–1909 1905–1909 — — T. Roosevelt death
6 Kenesaw Mountain Landis IL 1866–1944 1905–1922 — — T. Roosevelt resignation
7 George Albert Carpenter IL 1867–1944 1910–1933 — — Taft resignation
8 James Herbert Wilkerson IL 1869–1948 1922–1940 — 1940–1948 Harding death
9 Adam C. Cliffe IL 1869–1928 1922–1928 — — Harding death
10 Charles Edgar Woodward IL 1876–1942 1929–1942 — — Coolidge death
11 John P. Barnes IL 1881–1959 1931–1957 1948–1957 1957–1958 Hoover resignation
12 George E. Q. Johnson IL 1874–1949 1932–1933[Note 2] — — Hoover not confirmed
13 William Harrison Holly IL 1869–1958 1933–1943[Note 3] — 1943–1958 F. Roosevelt death
14 Philip Leo Sullivan IL 1889–1960 1933–1960[Note 3] 1957–1959 — F. Roosevelt death
15 Michael L. Igoe IL 1885–1967 1938–1965[Note 4] — 1965–1967 F. Roosevelt death
16 William Joseph Campbell IL 1905–1988 1940–1970 1959–1970 1970–1988 F. Roosevelt death
17 Walter J. LaBuy IL 1888–1967 1944–1961 — 1961–1967 F. Roosevelt death
18 Elwyn Riley Shaw IL 1888–1950 1944–1950 — — F. Roosevelt death
19 Joseph Sam Perry IL 1896–1984 1951–1971 — 1971–1984 Truman death
20 Julius Hoffman IL 1895–1983 1953–1972 — 1972–1983 Eisenhower death
21 Winfred George Knoch IL 1895–1983 1953–1958 — — Eisenhower elevation to 7th Cir.
22 Julius Howard Miner IL 1896–1963 1958–1963 — — Eisenhower death
23 Edwin Albert Robson IL 1905–1986 1958–1975[Note 5] 1970–1975 1975–1986 Eisenhower death
24 Richard Bevan Austin IL 1901–1977 1961–1975 — 1975–1977 Kennedy death
25 James Benton Parsons IL 1911–1993 1961–1981 1975–1981 1981–1993 Kennedy death
26 Hubert Louis Will IL 1914–1995 1961–1979 — 1979–1995 Kennedy death
27 Bernard Martin Decker IL 1904–1993 1962–1980[Note 6] — 1980–1993 Kennedy death
28 Abraham Lincoln Marovitz IL 1905–2001 1963–1975 — 1975–2001 Kennedy death
29 William Joseph Lynch IL 1908–1976 1966–1976 — — L. Johnson death
30 Alexander J. Napoli IL 1905–1972 1966–1972 — — L. Johnson death
31 Frank James McGarr IL 1921–2012 1970–1986 1981–1986 1986–1988 Nixon retirement
32 Thomas Roberts McMillen IL 1916–2002 1971–1984 — 1984–1985 Nixon retirement
33 William J. Bauer IL 1926–present 1971–1975 — — Nixon elevation to 7th Cir.
34 Richard Wellington McLaren IL 1918–1976 1972–1976 — — Nixon death
35 Philip Willis Tone IL 1923–2001 1972–1974 — — Nixon elevation to 7th Cir.
36 Prentice Marshall IL 1926–2004 1973–1988 — 1988–1996 Nixon retirement
37 Joel Flaum IL 1936–present 1974–1983 — — Ford elevation to 7th Cir.
38 Alfred Younges Kirkland Sr. IL 1917–2004 1974–1979 — 1979–2004 Ford death
39 John F. Grady IL 1929–2019 1975–1994 1986–1990 1994–2019 Ford death
40 George N. Leighton IL 1912–2018 1976–1986 — 1986–1987 Ford retirement
41 John Powers Crowley IL 1936–1989 1976–1981 — — Ford resignation
42 Stanley Julian Roszkowski IL 1923–2014 1977–1991 — 1991–1998 Carter retirement
43 Nicholas John Bua IL 1925–2002 1977–1991 — — Carter retirement
44 James Byron Moran IL 1930–2009 1979–1995 1990–1995 1995–2009 Carter death
46 Milton Shadur IL 1924–2018 1980–1992 — 1992–2018 Carter death
48 Susan Christine O'Meara Getzendanner IL 1939–present 1980–1987 — — Carter resignation
49 John Albert Nordberg IL 1926–2021 1982–1994 — 1994–2021 Reagan death
50 William Thomas Hart IL 1929–2023 1982–1996 — 1996–2023 Reagan death
51 Paul Edward Plunkett IL 1935–2018 1982–1998 — 1998–2018 Reagan death
52 Ilana Rovner IL 1938–present 1984–1992 — — Reagan elevation to 7th Cir.
54 James F. Holderman IL 1946–present 1985–2013 2006–2013 2013–2015 Reagan retirement
55 Ann Claire Williams IL 1949–present 1985–1999 — — Reagan elevation to 7th Cir.
56 Brian Barnett Duff IL 1930–2016 1985–1996 — 1996–2016 Reagan death
58 James Zagel IL 1941–2023 1987–2016 — 2016–2023 Reagan death
59 James Henry Alesia IL 1934–2003 1987–1998 — 1998–2003 Reagan death
62 George W. Lindberg IL 1932–2019 1989–2001 — 2001–2019 G.H.W. Bush death
63 Wayne Andersen IL 1945–present 1991–2010 — — G.H.W. Bush retirement
65 Rubén Castillo IL 1954–present 1994–2019 2013–2019 — Clinton retirement
66 Blanche M. Manning IL 1934–2020 1994–2010 — 2010–2020 Clinton death
67 David H. Coar IL 1943–present 1994–2009 — 2009–2010 Clinton retirement
72 William J. Hibbler IL 1946–2012 1999–2012 — — Clinton death
76 John W. Darrah IL 1938–2017 2000–2017 — 2017 Clinton death
77 Amy St. Eve IL 1965–present 2002–2018 — — G.W. Bush elevation to 7th Cir.
78 Samuel Der-Yeghiayan IL 1952–present 2003–2018 — — G.W. Bush retirement
79 Mark Filip IL 1966–present 2004–2008 — — G.W. Bush resignation
83 Gary Feinerman IL 1965–present 2010–2022 — — Obama resignation
86 John Z. Lee IL 1968–present 2012–2022 — — Obama elevation to 7th Cir.
  1. ↑ Reassigned from the District of Illinois.
  2. ↑ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.
  3. 1 2 Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 8, 1934, confirmed by the Senate on February 20, 1934, and received commission on March 1, 1934.
  4. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1939, confirmed by the Senate on February 9, 1939, and received commission on March 4, 1939.
  5. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 17, 1959, confirmed by the Senate on April 29, 1959, and received commission on April 30, 1959.
  6. ↑ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1963, confirmed by the Senate on March 28, 1963, and received commission on April 2, 1963.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

List of U.S. attorneys since 1857

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Northern District of Illinois | Meet the U.S. Attorney". www.justice.gov. March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 393.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 U.S. District Courts of Illinois, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  4. ↑ Simpson, Dick; Nowlan, James; Gradel, Thomas J.; Mouritsen Zmuda, Melissa; Sterrett, David; Cantor, Douglas (February 15, 2012). "Chicago and Illinois, Leading the Pack in Corruption; Anti-Corruption Report Number 5" (PDF). University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Political Science. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  5. ↑ Cahan, Richard (December 18, 2002). A Court That Shaped America: Chicago's Federal District Court from Abe Lincoln to Abbie Hoffman. Northwestern University Press.
  6. ↑ "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: U.S. District Attorneys in Illinois". politicalgraveyard.com.
  8. ↑ "ACLU Of Illinois welcomes new board members". February 23, 2009.

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