Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Rock Island Resident's Nomination for Federal Judgeship in the Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved Sara Darrow for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate.
“Ms. Darrow has an impressive record of service in the Rock Island area, prosecuting some of the most challenging cases, said Durbin. “Having served with distinction as a state and federal prosecutor, she will bring a depth of experience to the bench. I was honored to submit her name to the White House and I look forward to voting to confirm her nomination on the Senate floor.”
Darrow has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois since 2003 and has prosecuted major federal crimes involving firearms, drugs, gangs, fraud, money laundering, bank robberies, and cybercrime. From 1999-2003, she worked in the Henry County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney and then as the First Assistant State’s Attorney. From 1997-1998, she worked in the Law Offices of Clarence Darrow in Rock Island. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University law school and Marquette University.
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.