James Holderman
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James F. Holderman is the Chief District (Article III) Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Holderman is the Chief Judge in one of the busiest federal court districts in the nation.
Early life
As a native born Chicagoland citizen from Joliet, Holderman recieved both his Bachelor's and Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1968 and 1971. After law school, Holderman became a Law clerk for former US District Judge Edward McManus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa from 1971 to 1972.
Judicial Career
On recommendation from former U.S. Senator Charles Percy, Holderman was nominated by Ronald Reagan on February 25, 1985, to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333 through Confirmed by the Senate on April 3, 1985, and received commission on April 4, 1985. In 2006, Holderman was named the court's Chief Judge.
Professional career
After becoming a law clerk in Iowa, Holderman returned back to Illinois to become Assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1972 to 1978. Holderman became a a Private practice attorney in Chicago from 1978 to 1985. During his time as a private practice attorney he was also a adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law from 1981 to 1983 and Northwestern University School of Law from 1982 to 1984. Still as a judge, Holderman was a Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School from 1983to 2000 and is currently an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School in Chicago and the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana.
Federal judicial career
On the recommendation of Senator Charles Percy, Holderman was nominated 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 a Senate vote and received commission on April 4, 1985. Holderman has served as the chief judge of the court since 2006.
Blagojevich Case
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[1].
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.[1].
Holderman says "the ends of justice served by the extension outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendants to a speedy trial"[1].
Also, Holderman has ruled in the matter of Blagojevich by directing prosecutors to release the recordings by noon Janauary 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[2] 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 Indicitment linking Blagojevich to alledgely 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[2].
References
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The Illinois Project on Judgepedia
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