United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
(N.D. Ill.)
Map

The Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, one of four locations where the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois holds sessions.
Appeals to Seventh Circuit
Established February 13, 1855
Judges assigned 22
Chief judge James F. Holderman
Official site

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (in case citations, N.D. Ill.) is the 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, 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, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago. Its sessions are held in Freeport and Rockford.

Contents

History

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.[1][2] 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.[2]

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.[2] 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,[2] 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,[2] formed primarily from parts of the Southern District, and returning some counties to the Northern District.

Current judges

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
56 Chief District Judge James F. Holderman Chicago 1946 1985–present 2006–present (n/a) Reagan
55 District Judge Charles Ronald Norgle, Sr. Chicago 1937 1984–present (n/a) (n/a) Reagan
60 District Judge James Zagel Chicago 1941 1987–present (n/a) (n/a) Reagan
70 District Judge Ruben Castillo Chicago 1954 1994–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
71 District Judge Joan B. Gottschall Chicago 1947 1996–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
72 District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer Chicago 1954 1998–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
73 District Judge William J. Hibbler Chicago 1946 1999–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
74 District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly Chicago 1956 1999–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
75 District Judge Ronald A. Guzman Chicago 1948 1999–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
76 District Judge Joan Lefkow Chicago 1944 2000–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
77 District Judge John W. Darrah Chicago 1938 2000–present (n/a) (n/a) Clinton
78 District Judge Amy J. St. Eve Chicago 1965 2002–present (n/a) (n/a) G.W. Bush
79 District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan Chicago 1952 2003–present (n/a) (n/a) G.W. Bush
80 District Judge Virginia Mary Kendall Chicago 1952 2006–present (n/a) (n/a) G.W. Bush
82 District Judge Frederick J. Kapala Rockford 1960 2007–present (n/a) (n/a) G.W. Bush
83 District Judge Robert Michael Dow Jr. Chicago 1965 2007–present (n/a) (n/a) G.W. Bush
84 District Judge Gary Feinerman Chicago 1965 2010–present (n/a) (n/a) Obama
85 District Judge Coleman, Sharon J.Sharon J. Coleman Chicago 1960 2010–present (n/a) (n/a) Obama
86 District Judge Chang, Edmond E.Edmond E. Chang Chicago 1970 2010–present (n/a) (n/a) Obama
87 District Judge (Seat Vacant) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a)
88 District Judge (Seat Vacant) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a)
89 District Judge (Seat Vacant) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a) (n/a)
41 Senior District Judge John Francis Grady Chicago 1929 1975–1994 (n/a) 1994–present Ford
46 Senior District Judge Marvin E. Aspen Chicago 1934 1979–2002 (n/a) 2002–present Carter
48 Senior District Judge Milton Irving Shadur Chicago 1924 1980–1992 (n/a) 1992–present Carter
50 Senior District Judge Charles Petros Kocoras Chicago 1938 1980–2006 (n/a) 2006–present Carter
51 Senior District Judge William Thomas Hart Chicago 1929 1982–1996 (n/a) 1996–present Reagan
52 Senior District Judge John Albert Nordberg Chicago 1926 1982–1994 (n/a) 1994–present Reagan
53 Senior District Judge Paul Edward Plunkett inactive 1935 1982–1998 (n/a) 1998–present Reagan
58 Senior District Judge Harry Daniel Leinenweber Chicago 1937 1985–2002 (n/a) 2002–present Reagan
61 Senior District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon Chicago 1939 1988–2004 (n/a) 2004–present Reagan
62 Senior District Judge George Michael Marovich Chicago 1931 1988–2000 (n/a) 2000–present Reagan
63 Senior District Judge George Wakem Lindberg Chicago 1932 1989–2001 (n/a) 2001–present G.H.W. Bush
65 Senior District Judge Philip Godfrey Reinhard Rockford 1941 1992–2007 (n/a) 2007–present G.H.W. Bush
66 Senior District Judge Blanche M. Manning Chicago 1934 1994–2010 (n/a) 2010–present Clinton
68 Senior District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo Chicago 1944 1994–2009 (n/a) 2009–present Clinton
69 Senior District Judge Robert William Gettleman Chicago 1943 1994–2009 (n/a) 2009–present Clinton

Vacancies

Prior
incumbent		 Date of
vacancy		 Reason Nominee Date
nominated
Coar, David H.David H. Coar 02009-08-12 August 12, 2009 Senior Lee, John Z.John Z. Lee 02011-11-10 November 10, 2011
Manning, Blanche M.Blanche M. Manning 02010-02-01 February 1, 2010 Senior Tharp, Jr., John J.John J. Tharp, Jr. 02011-11-10 November 10, 2011
Andersen, Wayne R.Wayne R. Andersen 02010-07-31 July 31, 2010 Retired None N/A

Former Judges

Judge Appointed by Began active
service		 Ended active
service		 Ended senior
status		 End reason
Thomas Drummond Zachary Taylor 01850-02-19 February 19, 1850 01869-12-22 December 22, 1869 – reappointment
Henry Williams Blodgett Ulysses S. Grant 01870-01-11 January 11, 1870 01892-12-05 December 5, 1892 – retirement
Peter Stenger Grosscup Benjamin Harrison 01892-12-20 December 20, 1892 01899-02-01 February 1, 1899 – reappointment
Christian Cecil Kohlsaat William McKinley 01899-02-28 February 28, 1899 01905-03-24 March 24, 1905 – reappointment
Solomon Hicks Bethea Theodore Roosevelt 01905-03-18 March 18, 1905 01909-08-03 August 3, 1909 – death
Kenesaw Mountain Landis Theodore Roosevelt 01905-03-18 March 18, 1905 01922-02-28 February 28, 1922 – resignation
George Albert Carpenter William Howard Taft 01910-01-11 January 11, 1910 01933-06-30 June 30, 1933 – resignation
Adam C. Cliffe Warren G. Harding 01922-12-22 December 22, 1922 01928-06-12 June 12, 1928 – death
James Herbert Wilkerson Warren G. Harding 01922-07-18 July 18, 1922 01940-12-31 December 31, 1940 01948-09-30 September 30, 1948 death
Charles Edgar Woodward Calvin Coolidge 01929-03-02 March 2, 1929 01942-05-15 May 15, 1942 – death
John Peter Barnes Herbert Hoover 01931-03-04 March 4, 1931 01957-09-15 September 15, 1957 01958-12-31 December 31, 1958 resignation
George E. Q. Johnson Herbert Hoover 01932-08-03 August 3, 1932[3] 01933-03-03 March 3, 1933 – not confirmed
William Joseph Campbell Franklin D. Roosevelt 01940-10-10 October 10, 1940 01970-03-19 March 19, 1970 01988-10-19 October 19, 1988 death
William Harrison Holly Franklin D. Roosevelt 01933-11-08 November 8, 1933[4] 01943-12-31 December 31, 1943 01958-01-30 January 30, 1958 death
Michael L. Igoe Franklin D. Roosevelt 01938-11-21 November 21, 1938[5] 01965-08-31 August 31, 1965 01967-08-21 August 21, 1967 death
Walter J. LaBuy Franklin D. Roosevelt 01944-03-31 March 31, 1944 01961-01-31 January 31, 1961 01967-09-29 September 29, 1967 death
Elwyn Riley Shaw Franklin D. Roosevelt 01944-05-09 May 9, 1944 01950-07-18 July 18, 1950 – death
Philip Leo Sullivan Franklin D. Roosevelt 01933-11-08 November 8, 1933[4] 01960-06-12 June 12, 1960 – death
Joseph Sam Perry Harry S. Truman 01951-08-22 August 22, 1951 01971-11-29 November 29, 1971 01984-02-18 February 18, 1984 death
Julius Hoffman Dwight D. Eisenhower 01953-05-14 May 14, 1953 01972-02-03 February 3, 1972 01983-07-01 July 1, 1983 death
Winfred George Knoch Dwight D. Eisenhower 01953-05-14 May 14, 1953 01958-09-14 September 14, 1958 – reappointment
Julius Howard Miner Dwight D. Eisenhower 01958-02-27 February 27, 1958 01963-03-13 March 13, 1963 – death
Edwin Albert Robson Dwight D. Eisenhower 01958-09-29 September 29, 1958[6] 01975-04-16 April 16, 1975 01986-10-21 October 21, 1986 death
Richard Bevan Austin John F. Kennedy 01961-08-15 August 15, 1961 01975-10-10 October 10, 1975 01977-02-07 February 7, 1977 death
Bernard Martin Decker John F. Kennedy 01962-12-12 December 12, 1962[7] 01980-04-02 April 2, 1980 01993-11-03 November 3, 1993 death
Abraham Lincoln Marovitz John F. Kennedy 01963-10-02 October 2, 1963 01975-08-10 August 10, 1975 02001-03-17 March 17, 2001 death
James Benton Parsons John F. Kennedy 01961-08-30 August 30, 1961 01981-08-30 August 30, 1981 01993-06-19 June 19, 1993 death
Hubert Louis Will John F. Kennedy 01961-09-22 September 22, 1961 01979-04-23 April 23, 1979 01995-12-09 December 9, 1995 death
William Joseph Lynch Lyndon B. Johnson 01966-03-07 March 7, 1966 01976-08-09 August 9, 1976 – death
Alexander J. Napoli Lyndon B. Johnson 01966-09-21 September 21, 1966 01972-07-12 July 12, 1972 – death
William Joseph Bauer Richard Nixon 01971-11-10 November 10, 1971 01975-01-03 January 3, 1975 – reappointment
Prentice Marshall Richard Nixon 01973-07-18 July 18, 1973 01988-10-19 October 19, 1988 01996-04-15 April 15, 1996 retirement
Frank James McGarr Richard Nixon 01970-10-14 October 14, 1970 01986-06-30 June 30, 1986 01988-01-15 January 15, 1988 retirement
Richard Wellington McLaren Richard Nixon 01972-01-26 January 26, 1972 01976-02-25 February 25, 1976 – death
Thomas Roberts McMillen Richard Nixon 01971-04-23 April 23, 1971 01984-12-31 December 31, 1984 01985-09-08 September 8, 1985 retirement
Philip Willis Tone Richard Nixon 01972-01-26 January 26, 1972 01974-05-17 May 17, 1974 – reappointment
John Powers Crowley Gerald Ford 01976-06-16 June 16, 1976 01981-06-30 June 30, 1981 – resignation
Joel Martin Flaum Gerald Ford 01974-12-20 December 20, 1974 01983-06-01 June 1, 1983 – reappointment
Alfred Younges Kirkland, Sr. Gerald Ford 01974-12-21 December 21, 1974 01979-04-30 April 30, 1979 02004-03-19 March 19, 2004 death
George Neves Leighton Gerald Ford 01976-02-04 February 4, 1976 01987-12-01 December 1, 1987 – retirement
Nicholas John Bua Jimmy Carter 01977-10-11 October 11, 1977 01991-11-04 November 4, 1991 – retirement
Susan Christine O'Meara Getzendanner Jimmy Carter 01980-09-30 September 30, 1980 01987-09-30 September 30, 1987 – resignation
Stanley Julian Roszkowski Jimmy Carter 01977-10-11 October 11, 1977 01991-01-09 January 9, 1991 01998-01-31 January 31, 1998 retirement
James Byron Moran Jimmy Carter 01979-07-24 July 24, 1979 01995-06-30 June 30, 1995 02009-04-21 April 21, 2009 death
James Henry Alesia Ronald Reagan 01987-05-20 May 20, 1987 01998-02-01 February 1, 1998 02003-07-24 July 24, 2003 death
Ilana Rovner Ronald Reagan 01984-09-12 September 12, 1984 01992-08-17 August 17, 1992 – reappointment
Ann Claire Williams Ronald Reagan 01985-04-04 April 4, 1985 01999-11-17 November 17, 1999 – reappointment
Brian Barnett Duff Ronald Reagan 01985-10-17 October 17, 1985 01996-10-10 October 10, 1996 – resignation
Wayne R. Andersen George H.W. Bush 01991-11-18 November 18, 1991 02010-07-31 July 31, 2010 – retirement
David Coar Bill Clinton 01994-10-07 October 7, 1994 02009-08-12 August 12, 2009 02010-12-31 December 31, 2010 retirement
Mark Filip George W. Bush 02004-02-08 February 8, 2004 02008-03-09 March 9, 2008 – resignation

Magistrate Judges

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. Patrick Fitzgerald has served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois since September 1, 2001.

See also

References

  1. ^ Asbury Dickens, A Synoptical Index to the Laws and Treaties of the United States of America (1852), p. 393.
  2. ^ a b c d e U.S. District Courts of Illinois, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.
  4. ^ a b Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 8, 1934, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 20, 1934, and received commission on March 1, 1934.
  5. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 5, 1939, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 9, 1939, and received commission on March 4, 1939.
  6. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 17, 1959, confirmed by the United States Senate on April 29, 1959, and received commission on April 30, 1959.
  7. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1963, confirmed by the United States Senate on March 28, 1963, and received commission on April 2, 1963.
  8. ^ List of Northern District Judges

External links