11.17.23

Durbin, Duckworth Send Recommendations to be Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division to the White House

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 sent a list of names for the White House to consider for Federal District Court Judge vacancies in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.  Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established, Durbin and Duckworth have forwarded the names of the following individuals to President Biden for consideration: Georgia Alexakis, Karyn L. Bass Ehler, Judge Sunil Harjani, Judge Heather McShain, Amol Parikh, and Grayson Sang Walker.

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide assistance and input in filling these vacancies, and we look forward to working with you to ensure a fair and swift confirmation process after you submit nominations to the Senate,” Durbin and Duckworth wrote in a letter to President Biden.

In August, 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.  Their screening committee is chaired by the Honorable David Coar (ret.), former U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.  The other members of the Northern District Committee are Alejandro Caffarelli, Michael Chu, Kevin Conway, Herschella Conyers, Edward Feldman, Betty Jang, Monica Llorente, Laurie Mikva, Zaldwaynaka (“Z”) Scott, and Carlina Tapia-Ruano.

The committee has carefully evaluated candidates by reviewing their professional records and application questionnaires, contacting references, and conducting interviews, and has submitted their findings and recommendations to the Senators.  Durbin and Duckworth have interviewed the finalists, reviewed their records, and consulted with each other regarding their qualifications. 

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.

Full text of today’s letter to the White House is available here.

Biographies of those recommended by Durbin and Duckworth are below:

Georgia Alexakis: Alexakis has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of Appeals of the Criminal Division in the Northern District of Illinois since 2022. Prior to that, she was a Partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP (2021-2022). From 2013 to 2021, Alexakis was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, serving as Deputy Chief of Appeals (2019-2021) and Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator (2019-2021). Before that, she was a Partner and an Associate at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and she clerked for Judge Milton I. Shadur on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Judge Marsha S. Berzon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Karyn L. Bass Ehler: Bass Ehler is currently the Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. From 2020 to 2021, she served as General Counsel at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Prior to that, she was Senior Counsel and Head of the Civil Rights Practice Group at Grant & Eisenhofer (2019-2020). Before that, Bass Ehler was Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General (2015-2019). Prior to that, she was a Partner (2013-2015) and an Associate (2007-2013) at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. Bass Ehler received her B.A. from Northwestern University and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, and she clerked for Judge Matthew F. Kennelly on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Judge William J. Bauer on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Judge Sunil Harjani: Harjani has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Illinois since 2019. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. From 2008 to 2019, Harjani was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section. Prior to that, he was a Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (2004-2008). Before that, Harjani was an Associate at Jenner & Block (2000-2001, 2002-2004). Harjani received his B.A. and his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University, and clerked for Judge Suzanne B. Conlon on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Judge Heather McShain: McShain has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Illinois since 2020. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Notre Dame Law School. Previously, McShain was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in the Northern District of Illinois from 2010 to 2020, serving in supervisory positions since 2015. Prior to that, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division in the Southern District of New York (2002-2010). From 2007 to 2008, she was detailed to the Office of the Legal Adviser in the U.S. State Department. Before that, she was a Litigation Associate at Jones Day (2000-2001, 2002). McShain received her B.S.,cum laude, and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame, and clerked for Judge Robert E. Cowen on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Judge William C. Lee on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Amol Parikh: Parikh has been a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP since 2012, previously serving as an Associate from 2005 to 2011. Prior to that, he was an Associate at Wallenstein Wagner & Rockey, Ltd (2005). Parikh received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, and served as a Judicial Extern for Judge Amy J. St. Eve when she served on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Grayson Sang Walker: Walker currently serves as Senior Attorney Advisor in the Office of the Chair at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Prior to that, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois (2016-2021). Walker began his legal career as a Trial Attorney at the EEOC (2010-2013). Walker received his B.A., summa cum laude, from Yale College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and he clerked for Judge Elaine E. Bucklo on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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