Sara Darrow
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Assumed office
March 12, 2019
Preceded byJames Shadid
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Assumed office
August 3, 2011
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byJoe Billy McDade
Personal details
Born
Sara Lynn Frizzell[1]

(1970-07-29) July 29, 1970 (age 53)
Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
SpouseClarence Michael Darrow
RelativesClarence A. Darrow (father-in-law)
EducationMarquette University (BA)
Saint Louis University (JD)

Sara Lynn Darrow (née Frizzell; born July 29, 1970) is the Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. She was formerly an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, where she was chief of the violent crimes section.[2]

Early life and education

Darrow earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1992 from Marquette University and her Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1997.[3]

Career

After graduating from law school, Darrow worked in the law offices of Clarence Darrow in Rock Island, Illinois.[4] Between 1999 and 2003, she worked in the Henry County, Illinois State's Attorney's Office in Cambridge, Illinois. In 2003 Darrow became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois where she prosecuted significant criminal cases involving firearms, drugs, gangs, fraud, money laundering, and corruption.[2][3]

Federal judicial service

On the recommendation of Senator Dick Durbin, Darrow was nominated to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois by President Barack Obama on November 17, 2010 to fill a vacancy created by Judge Joe Billy McDade, who assumed senior status.[4] The United States Senate confirmed Darrow by unanimous consent on August 2, 2011,[5] and she received her commission the next day.[3] She started her term as chief judge on March 12, 2019.

Personal life

Darrow's husband Clarence Michael Darrow serves as an Illinois Circuit Court judge. Her father-in-law Clarence A. Darrow also served as an Illinois state court judge and served in the Illinois General Assembly.[6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. April 13, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "President Obama Nominates Six to the United States District Court, 11/17/10". whitehouse.gov. November 17, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010 – via National Archives.
  3. ^ a b c Sara Darrow at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  4. ^ a b "Durbin: White House Nominates Darrow to Fill Federal Judgeship in Central District". United States Senator Dick Durbin. November 17, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  5. ^ "Judicial Nominations and Confirmations: 112th Congress". judiciary.senate.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-01-08.
  6. ^ Illinois Bar Journal-The Honorable Darrows
  7. ^ Our Campaigns.com-Clarence Michael Darrow
  8. ^ Our Campaigns.com-Clarence A. Darrow

External links

Legal offices Preceded byJoe Billy McDade Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois 2011–present Incumbent Preceded byJames Shadid Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois 2019–present
Active district judges of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
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