08.05.10

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Chang for Federal Judgeship in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved Edmond Chang for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. Chang is the third individual to be nominated to fill one of five vacancies in the Northern District. Earlier this summer, the Senate unanimously confirmed the President’s first two nominations: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman.

 

“Edmond Chang is an excellent candidate who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to public service throughout his career,” said Durbin. “His experience will be an asset to the Northern District of Illinois’ bench. I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama and I look forward to joining my Senate colleagues in voting for his nomination.”

 

Chang has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois since 1999, and he is currently the chief of appeals in the criminal division. He previously worked as an associate at Sidley Austin in Chicago, and as a judicial law clerk to Judge Marvin Aspen in the Northern District of Illinois and Judge James Ryan on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He received a Star of Distinction award from the Chicago Crime Commission. He has served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University law school, where he graduated with honors and served on the law review.

 

In April of last year, Durbin established three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for Illinois. The screening committees were comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators, law professors, bar association leaders, former prosecutors and defenders. Former federal judge and Illinois Congressman Abner Mikva chaired the Northern District Screening Panel.

 

Members of the screening committees met throughout the spring and early summer, reviewing applications and references, and conducting interviews. The screening committees recommended the names of several individuals for each vacancy. Durbin reviewed the screening committees’ recommendations, conducted interviews of finalists, and last fall, in consultation with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, submitted the names of seven individuals to the President, who made the final decisions on today’s nominees.