The United States Senate recently confirmed the appointment of Indian American Sunil R. Harjani as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois.
Harjani, who was nominated to the post by President Joe Biden earlier this year, becomes the first South Asian American to serve as a judge in the district.
CONFIRMED: Sunil Harjani to the Northern District of Illinois
— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) March 12, 2024
Judge Harjani is currently serving as a magistrate judge on this court. He’s an accomplished litigator and dedicated public servant.
He will help ensure a fair system of justice for all. pic.twitter.com/ZoNBZPJw2z
Welcoming the decision, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said in a statement, “Judge Harjani was highly regarded by our screening committee and brings strong qualifications and a wealth of courtroom experience—including as a Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since 2019—that will strengthen our federal bench.”
Harjani began serving as the Northern District of Illinois's United States Magistrate Judge in 2019. From 2008 to 2019, he served at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section.
He worked as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago from 2000 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2004. He also practiced federal civil litigation while serving as senior counsel at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission from 2004 to 2008.
From 2001 to 2002, Harjani worked as Judge Suzanne B. Conlon's law clerk on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1997 with a B.A. and from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2000 with a J.D., cum laude.
A screening committee was formed in August 2023 to consider candidates for the position of Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. They examined each application and presented its conclusions and recommendations to senators Durbin and Duckworth. The Senators shortlisted six candidates including Harjani for the President’s consideration.
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