01.10.24

Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nomination of Judge Sunil Harjani to be Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the White House announced its intent to nominate Judge Sunil Harjani to a Federal District Court Judge vacancy in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division:

“We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Sunil Harjani to fill a judicial vacancy for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.  Judge Harjani was highly regarded by our screening committee and brings strong qualifications and a wealth of courtroom experience—including as a Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2019—that will strengthen our federal bench.  We look forward to supporting his nomination in the Senate.”

In August 2023, Durbin and Duckworth established a screening committee to review applicants to be a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.  The committee carefully evaluated candidates by reviewing their professional records and application questionnaires, contacting references, and conducting interviews, and submitted their findings and recommendations to the Senators.  Durbin and Duckworth interviewed the finalists, reviewed their records, and consulted with each other regarding their qualifications. 

In November 2023, the Senators sent a letter to the White House recommending six candidates for President Biden’s consideration for current and future vacancies for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, including Judge Harjani.

Once the President submits a nomination to the U.S. Senate, it will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Durbin is the Chair, and the nominee will ultimately receive a vote in the Committee.  If the nomination is approved by the Judiciary Committee, the nominee will receive a vote by the full Senate.

The nominee’s biography from the White House is below:

Judge Sunil R. Harjani has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2019.  Judge Harjani previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 2008 to 2019.  He also practiced federal civil litigation as a senior counsel at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission from 2004 to 2008 and as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago from 2000 to 2001 and 2002 to 2004.  Judge Harjani served as a law clerk for Judge Suzanne B. Conlon on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2001 to 2002.  He received his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2000 and his B.A. from Northwestern University in 1997. 

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