Downers Grove Attorney Confirmed as Federal Judge

The U.S. Senate on Monday approved the nomination of Thomas M. Durkin, a Chicago lawyer and former federal judge, to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois.

A Downers Grove resident, Durkin, 58, was nominated by President Barack Obama in May to replace Judge Wayne Anderson, who retired in July 2010. He becomes the sixth federal trial court judge to be confirmed to the Chicago-based federal court since Obama took office, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, first forwarded Durkin's name to the White House in 2009 based on the recommendation of a bipartisan screen committee. Durkin was endorsed again in 2011 by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL). 

On the Senate floor Monday, Durbin said Durkin has demonstrated "strong leadership in his community and a solid commitment to public service."

“He has the qualifications, independence and integrity to serve in a distinguished manner on the bench," Durbin said. “He’ll be an excellent federal district court judge."

Durkin is currently a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown LLP, where he handles complex business litigation and white collar criminal cases, including fraud, tax and public corruption. He expects to begin hearing cases once Obama signs his judicial commission, which will likely be in the next few days, the Tribune reports.

Prior to joining Mayer Brown in 1993, Durkin served for 13 years as an Assistant U.S. State's Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois. During that time, he held numerous leadership positions, including Chief of the Special Prosecutions Division, Chief of the Criminal Receiving and Appellate Division, and First Assistant United States Attorney. 

After earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Durkin went on to earn a law degree from DePaul University in 1978. For the next two years, he served as a law clerk to Chicago-based federal trial court judge Stanley Roszkowski.

Durkin also served on the Downers Grove Grade School District 58 school board from 1993 until 1997. He is the brother of State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs).

“Durkin's outstanding legal experience and proven community leadership will serve the Northern District of Illinois well," Sen. Kirk said in a press release. "I thank Senator Durbin for his dedication to ensuring Illinois' judicial vacancies are filled with highly-skilled candidates like Durkin.” 

Three vacancies remain on the Chicago federal trial court. With Durkin’s confirmation, the court will have 19 active judges, according to the Chicago Tribune.

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