Becoming a Federal Judge

Leaders and participants from the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening and from the Chicago Bar Association will detail the process of judicial evaluation for election and appointment to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Sitting judges from all state court levels will address the various paths to the bench in Cook County. Two federal judges and representatives from the offices of Illinois Senators Durbin and Kirk will discuss how appointments to the federal bench get made. Three moderated conversations with time for Q&A will be followed by a networking reception.

This panel will address the entirety of the process on how to become an Article III judge, including the application, screening, appointment and confirmation process. In addition, the panel will discuss the appointment of magistrate judges, as well as the appointment of federal administrative law judges. Finally, this panel will address judicial evaluations for the federal judiciary. The panel will conclude with a 5 to 10 minute question and answer session.

Panelists:

• Hon. Sara L. Ellis (U.S. District Court Judge, Northern District of Illinois)
• Hon. Mary Rowland (U.S. Magistrate Judge)
• Dan Swanson (Senior Counsel, Office of Sen. Dick Durbin)
• Peter V. Baugher (Chair of Sen. Mark Kirk's Judicial Advisory Board)

April 8, 2016
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
222 N LaSalle Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL

Relevant Documents