James Zagel
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James Block Zagel is an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Early life
A native of Chicago, Zagel earned both his Bachelor's and Master's in 1962 from the University of Chicago before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1965. [1]
Federal Judicial Service
On the recommendation of US Congressman Henry Hyde, Zagel was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on February 2, 1987, to a seat vacated by former judge Frank McGarr. Zagel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 21, 1987 on a majority voice vote and received his commission on April 22, 1987. [2] [1]
Rod Blagojevich Trial
As the indictment of Rod Blagojevich was released on April 2, 2009, it was noted that Judge Zagel will preside over the trial of the impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich, along with his brother Rob Blagojevich and former Chief of Staff John Harris, will face trial. The grand jury under Judge Zagel returned a 19-count indictment, accusing the impeached governor of what US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called "pervasive fraud" that began even before he was elected to his first term in 2002. The government claims Blagojevich and his co-conspirators set out to illegally obtain millions of dollars, which would be distributed once the governor left office. [3]
Also stated in the indictment, are U.S. Attorney claims that Blagojevich tried to extort a congressman. It was reported and later confirmed the evening of April 2, 2009 {the date the indictment was released) that WMAQ-TV 5 (NBC Affiliate in Chicago) the congressman targeted was President Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. [3]
Blagojevich is charged with 16 felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion and making false statements to federal agents. The ex-governor's wife, Patti Blagojevich was not charged in the grand jury indictment but the Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney's Office asserts that hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions and salary were funneled to the former First Lady of Illinois through former real estate developer Tony Rezko, though Mrs. Blagojevich did no work under the former real estate developer. [3]
Next Courtroom Activity
Blagojevich will be formally arraigned by Judge Zagel on April 21, 2009 as the impeached Illinois Governor will face his first court appearance since his December 2008 arrest. Blagojevich is expected to enter a not guilty plea and a preliminary schedule of early court dates could be set. He is scheduled to appear with his brother, Robert Blagojevich, a one-time chairman of the governor's campaign fund who also was indicted with the former Illinois Governor on April 2, 2009.
Link to Blagojevich Grand Jury Indictment
WMAQ-TV 5 of Chicago provides this link to the official indictment: Link to the 75 Page Grand Jury Indictment of Rod R. Blagojevich
Professional career
Zagel has enjoyed a distinguished legal career, starting as an Assistant state's attorney for Cook County from 1965 to 1969. Later he would serve as an assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois from 1969-1977. During his tenure as an Assistant Attorney General he was for one year (1969 to 1970) the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Justice Division involving criminal cases before becoming the lead assistant attorney general from 1970 to 1977. Zagel also served as the Chief prosecuting attorney for the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, he took a brief recess from practicing law in Illinois as he became chief assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona in 1975. After a long stint as an AG, Zagel moved up the ranks of law enforcement, becoming the Executive director for Illinois Law Enforcement Commission from 1977 to 1979. In 1979, Zagel was appointed director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, serving until 1980. Afterward he became the director of the Illinois State Police and during the same time served as the Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Counsel on Criminal Justice Legislation before his appointment by President Reagan to the Federal Bench in 1987. [1]
References
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The Illinois Project on Judgepedia
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