James Holderman
From Judgepedia
Contents |
James F. Holderman is the Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He joined the court in 1985 after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan. He became Chief Judge in 2006.
Education
Holderman received his B.S. from the University of Illinois in 1968 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1971. [1]
Professional career
- Law clerk, Hon. Edward McManus, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa, 1971-1972
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Chicago, Illinois, 1972-1978
- Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1978-1985
- Adjunct professor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1981-1983
- Adjunct professor, Northwestern University School of Law, 1982-1984
- Lecturer, University of Chicago Law School, 1983-2000
- Adjunct professor, John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 1986-present
- Adjunct professor, University of Illinois College of Law, 1993-present [1]
Federal judicial career
On the recommendation of Senator Charles Percy, Holderman was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President Ronald Reagan on February 25, 1985 to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333 which was approved by Congress. Holderman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 3, 1985 on and received his commission on April 4, 1985. Holderman has served as the chief judge of the court since 2006. [1]
Notable cases
Disabled housing case
Judge Holderman de-certified a class action lawsuit against nine Illinois citizens who suffered from down syndrome on moving into group homes from large facilities[2].
The ruling issued by the judge said that the settlement proposal was: "considerably broader than was necessary" to address the case of Stanley Ligas and eight other plaintiffs who claimed the State of Illinois violated federal law by not allowing them to move into group homes[2]. Holderman also ruled that Mr. Ligas and the other plaintiffs may continue to pursue their case, but not as a class-action lawsuit.
Many family members of mentally disabled adults who live in residential facilities with nine or more beds were pleased with Judge Holderman's ruling as attorneys for the plaintiffs in their affidavits called the facilities "institutions."[2]
Mr. Ligas who has down syndrome and holds a job, sued the State of Illinois in 2005 because he wanted to leave a 96-bed site for a small residential home. The lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. Ligas, claimed that Illinois officials declined to provide funding for him to live at a group home[2].
"The judge (Holderman) in no way ruled on the merits here," said Barry Taylor, a lawyer with Equip for Equality a group which represented the plaintiffs. "No one disputes that Illinois has not done enough to provide services for people with developmental delays," Taylor said after the ruling was issued[2].
Judge Holderman's ruling halted a proposed settlement between attorneys for the plaintiffs and the Illinois Department of Human Services. The settlement would have ordered for all adults who live in institutional settings to be evaluated annually, to see if they are eligible to move into a group home[2].
Blagojevich indictment extension
On January 5, 2009 Holderman granted a motion by US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald to extend the deadline of obtaining a Federal Grand Jury Indictment in the corruption case of Rod Blagojevich[3].
Holderman granted a 90 day extension by siding with US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald that the cases has grown in complexity to obtain a Federal grand jury indictment within the usual 30 day deadline to obtain an indictment.[3].
Holderman says "the ends of justice served by the extension outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendants to a speedy trial"[3].
Also, Holderman has ruled in the matter of Blagojevich by directing prosecutors to release the recordings by noon January 6, 2009 to attorneys for the four individuals secretly taped in the conversations. Holderman indicated the tapes could be released to the Illinois House special investigative committee looking into impeaching Blagojevich later in the proceedings to impeach the Illinois Governor. Federal prosecutors sought to release the recorded conversations after the House panel requested information that might help them decide the governor's political fate in which helped allowed Holderman to grant this ruling. Prosecutors have said the release of too many recordings could damage their ongoing investigation but offered to make available four calls in which Blagojevich allegedly sought campaign contributions for signing legislation that diverted casino funds to the state's horse racing industry that was noted in a 77 page FBI indictment linking Blagojevich to allegedly partake in quid pro-quo (Pay for Play) politics for the open senate Seat vacated by President-Elect Barack Obama in which Blagojevich has the sole authority to appoint as Governor. [4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Judge Holderman Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Chicago Tribune" Housing for disabled: Judge rejects proposed settlement to lawsuit, July 8, 2009
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "FOX News" James Holderman Grants 90 Day Extension, January 5, 2009
- ↑ "Chicago Tribune" Judge allows tapes to be released, January 6, 2009
 |
The Illinois Project on Judgepedia
|
