Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Confirmation Of Gregory Harris To Be Central District Of Illinois U.S. Attorney
Harris will be the first Black U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois
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 regarding the confirmation of Gregory Harris to be U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois:
“Having served for nearly 30 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, more than a decade in private practice, and several years in the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender, Greg Harris is well-qualified and an excellent choice to take on the role as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. His diligent, thoughtful, and principled approach to the law will serve Central Illinois well, and we are proud to have supported his nomination and confirmation.”
Following his nomination by President Biden, Harris was reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and was advanced by the Committee by voice vote. Today, Harris was confirmed by the full Senate by a unanimous consent request by Durbin.
Earlier this year, Durbin and Duckworth established three screening committees to review candidates for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal positions in Illinois. Their screening committees are comprised of distinguished members of Illinois’ legal community, including former judges, prosecutors, defenders, litigators, academics, legal aid attorneys, and law enforcement leaders.
The committees 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.
White House biography of Gregory K. Harris, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois
Gregory K. Harris is an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, where he has served since 2001. He has held various leadership positions in the office, including Chief of the Criminal Division. From 1988 to 2001, Mr. Harris was a partner at the law firm Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. in Illinois. Mr. Harris served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois from 1980 to 1988. From 1978 to 1980, Mr. Harris was Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. Mr. Harris served as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Illinois Office of State Appellate Defender from 1976 until 1978.
Mr. Harris received his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly known as The John Marshall Law School) in 1976 and his B.A. from Howard University in 1971.
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