05.21.12

Durbin, Kirk: White House Nominates Durkin to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. 

 

“Thomas Durkin is an outstanding candidate for a federal judgeship in the Northern District and I am pleased that President Obama has nominated him today. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership in his community and a solid commitment to public service.  I will be working with Senator Kirk to see his nomination approved by the Senate,” said Durbin.  Durbin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, forwarded Durkin’s name to President Obama in 2009 based on the recommendation of a bipartisan screening committee chaired by former federal judge and Illinois Congressman Abner Mikva.

 

“Thomas Durkin will be an excellent judge for the Northern District Court of Illinois,” said a spokesperson for Senator Kirk. “Durkin's outstanding legal experience and proven community leadership will serve the Northern District well.” Durkin was one of Senator Kirk's judicial recommendations submitted to the White House in July 2011. 

 

Thomas M. Durkin

 

Thomas M. Durkin is a partner at the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP, where he handles a broad array of matters including complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense.  He was the Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee for nearly a decade.  Prior to joining the firm as a partner in 1993, Durkin served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for over a decade.  During that time, he served in numerous leadership positions, including Chief of the Special Prosecutions Division, Chief of the Criminal Receiving and Appellate Division, and First Assistant United States Attorney. 

 

From 1978 to 1980, Durkin served as a law clerk to the Honorable Stanley J. Roszkowski of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.  He has received the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement, and the John Marshall Award from the U.S. Department of Justice.  Durkin received his J.D. with honors in 1978 from the DePaul University College of Law, where he has taught as an adjunct professor and his B.S. with honors in 1975 from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  Durkin lives in Downers Grove.