Colleen Lawless

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Colleen Lawless
Image of Colleen Lawless

Nonpartisan

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Tenure

2023 - Present

Years in position

1

Education

Bachelor's

Illinois Wesleyan University, 2005

Law

Northern Illinois University College of Law, 2009


Colleen Lawless is a judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. She was initially nominated to the court by President Joe Biden (D) on September 6, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 2023, by a vote of 51 - 41.[1][2][3][4][5] To see a full list of judges appointed by Joe Biden, click here.

Lawless was an Associate Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Sangamon County, Illinois.[2]

The United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.

Judicial nominations and appointments

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (2023-present)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Joe Biden

On September 6, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lawless to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.[2]

Lawless' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[6] The president renominated Lawless on January 23, 2023.[1] Lawless received commission on March 9, 2023.[7] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Colleen Lawless
Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Progress
Confirmed 177 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: September 6, 2022
ApprovedAABA Rating: Well Qualified by a substantial majority/Qualified by a minority
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: November 15, 2022
Hearing Transcript: Hearing Transcript
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: December 8, 2022 (initial nomination) 
ApprovedAConfirmed: March 2, 2023
ApprovedAVote: 51 - 41


Confirmation vote

The U.S. Senate confirmed Lawless by a vote of 51 - 41 on March 2, 2023.[5] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.

Colleen Lawless confirmation vote (March 2, 2023)
Party Yea Nay No vote
Electiondot.png Democratic 43 0 5
Ends.png Republican 5 41 3
Grey.png Independent 3 0 0
Total 51 41 8

Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on Lawless' nomination on November 15, 2022. Lawless was reported to the full Senate on December 8, 2022, after a 15-7 committee vote.[8]

Lawless' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[9] The president renominated Lawless on January 23, 2023.[1] In a committee hearing on February 9, 2023, Lawless was reported to the full Senate, after a 14-7 committee vote.[4] Click here for a list of other nominees awaiting a committee hearing.

Nomination

On September 6, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) nominated Lawless to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.[3]

Lawless' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2023.[10] The president renominated Lawless on January 23, 2023.[1]

Lawless was nominated to replace Judge Sue E. Myerscough, who will assume senior status upon the confirmation of her successor.[3]

The American Bar Association (ABA) rated Lawless Well Qualified by a substantial majority/Qualified by a minority.[11] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Biography

Education

Lawless earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2005 and a law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2009.[2]

Professional career

About the court

Central District of Illinois
Seventh Circuit
Great seal of the United States.png
Judgeships
Posts: 4
Judges: 4
Vacancies: 0
Judges
Chief: Sara Lynn Darrow
Active judges: Colin Stirling Bruce, Sara Lynn Darrow, Jonathan E. Hawley, Colleen Lawless

Senior judges:
Joe McDade, Michael Mihm, Richard Mills, Sue Myerscough, James E. Shadid


The United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of courthouses in Peoria, Urbana, Springfield and Rock Island, Illinois. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago, Illinois, at the Everett M. Dirksen Federal Courthouse and Building.

Jurisdiction

The Counties of the Central District of Illinois (click for larger map)

The Central District of Illinois has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.

The courthouses are in Peoria, Rock Island, Springfield, and Urbana.

To read opinions published by this court, click here.

The federal nomination process

Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:

  • The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
  • The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
  • As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
  • After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
  • If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
  • If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
  • The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
  • If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
  • If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/23/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-92/ The White House, "Nominations Sent to the Senate ," January 23, 2023]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The White House, "President Biden Names Twenty-Sixth Round of Judicial Nominees," September 2, 2022
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Congress.gov, "PN2500 — Colleen R. Lawless — The Judiciary," September 6, 2022
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Committee on the Judiciary, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 9, 2023," accessed February 9, 2023
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Congress.gov, "PN170 — Colleen R. Lawless — The Judiciary," March 2, 2023
  6. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  7. ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Lawless, Colleen Rae," March 9, 2023
  8. ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting – December 8, 2022," December 8, 2022
  9. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  10. ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
  11. ↑ American Bar Association, "RATINGS OF ARTICLE III AND ARTICLE IV JUDICIAL NOMINEES 117th Congress," last updated December 12, 2022

Political offices
Preceded by
- 		United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
2023-Present		 Succeeded by
-


Illinois courts

Federal courts:

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois

State courts:

Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court

State resources:

Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois

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