11.13.24

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of U.S. Magistrate Judge Hawley To Serve As A District Court Judge For 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 after the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois:

“We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois. Judge Hawley was highly regarded by our screening committee and brings strong qualifications and a wealth of experience that will strengthen our federal bench. He has been a Magistrate Judge for the past decade, in addition to previously serving as the Chief Federal Public Defender and clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Michael McCuskey—all in the Central District of Illinois.

“His experience and qualifications will strengthen our federal bench, and he will be ready to serve the Central District on day one.”

Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 215 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris administration. There are currently fifteen lifetime judges – including four circuit court nominees and eleven district court nominees – eligible for a vote on the Senate floor.

Judge Hawley’s biography from the White House is below:

Judge Jonathan E. Hawley has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois since 2014. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Hawley served in the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of Illinois from 1999 to 2014, including as the District’s Chief Federal Public Defender from 2011 to 2014. Judge Hawley served as a law clerk for Justice James D. Heiple on the Illinois Supreme Court from 1998 to 1999, for Judge Michael P. McCuskey on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in 1998, and for Judge McCuskey on the Illinois Third District Appellate Court from 1997 to 1998. He received his J.D., cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law in 1992 and his B.A, cum laude, from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1992.

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