Durbin: Senate Confirms Myerscough and Shadid to Fill Federal Judgeships in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has unanimously approved Sue Myerscough and James Shadid for federal judgeships on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. Prior to the vote, Durbin spoke in favor of the two nominees on the Senate floor.
“This day has come not a moment too soon for the Central District of Illinois,” said Durbin. “Since last August, the Central District of Illinois has had only one federal district court judge with three seats vacant. The chief judge of the district, Mike McCuskey, has done a Herculean job keeping the judicial system running these past seven months. He has been tremendous. I also salute Senior Judges Michael Mihm, Joe Billy McDade, Harold Baker and Richard Mills, who have stepped up to help out in the district. I am pleased that today reinforcements are on their way for the Central District and I look forward to working along with my colleague Senator Kirk to fill future judicial vacancies in Illinois.”
Justice Myerscough has served as a state appellate court judge on the Fourth District Appellate Court in Springfield since 1998. From 1987-1998, she was a state trial court judge on the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield. She worked in private practice from 1981-1987, after serving as a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Harold Baker in the Central District of Illinois. She earned a BA and JD from Southern Illinois University, and she has been an adjunct professor at the SIU School of Medicine and a member of the SIU Law School board of visitors.
“Justice Myerscough has long been a prominent figure in the Springfield legal landscape,” said Durbin. “She has over 23 years of judicial experience, and currently serves as an elected justice on Illinois’ Fourth District Appellate Court. She will make a superb federal judge in a district that desperately needs her service on the bench.”
Judge Shadid has served as a state trial court judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Peoria since 2001. He was a lawyer in private practice from 1983-2001, including part-time work as a Peoria County public defender and as a commissioner of the Court of Claims. He has been active in the community and served as president of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Peoria. Judge Shadid earned a BS from Bradley University, where he now serves as an adjunct professor, and a JD from John Marshall Law School.
“Judge Shadid is a leading figure in the Peoria legal community,” said Durbin. “He currently serves as a judge on the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Peoria County. In addition, to his broad legal experience, Judge Shadid has an impressive record of service to the Peoria community. I know he will serve the people of Illinois well as a federal judge in the Central District.”
Durbin established three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for Illinois. The screening committees were comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators, law professors, bar association leaders, former prosecutors and defenders. Springfield attorney James Potter serves as chair of the Central District of Illinois screening committee.
Members of the screening committees held meetings, reviewed applications and references, and conducted interviews. The screening committees recommended the names of several individuals for each vacancy. Durbin reviewed the screening committees’ recommendations, conducted interviews of finalists, and submitted his recommendations to the President, who makes the final decisions on nominees.