Gary Feinerman
Encyclopedia
Gary Scott Feinerman is a United States district judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
.
, Feinerman earned an A.B.
in 1987 from Yale University
. He graduated from Stanford Law School
witha law degree
in 1991, where he finished second in his class and was a member of Stanford Law Review
and Order of the Coif
.
From 1991 until 1992, Feinerman worked as a law clerk to United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Judge Joel Flaum
. From 1992 until 1993, Feinerman worked as an associate in the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown
. From 1993 until 1994, Feinerman worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Anthony Kennedy
.
as Counsel to the Office of Policy Development and also on detail to the Office of the Counsel of the President in 1995.
From 1996 until 1999, Feinerman again worked as an associate for the Chicago law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. He served as a partner at the firm from 2000 until 2003. While at Mayer Brown, Feinerman performed pro bono
work for the NAACP.
From 2003 until 2007, Feinerman worked in the office of the Illinois Attorney General as the state's Solicitor General.
In 2007, Feinerman joined the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin
as a partner, where he worked until becoming a United States district judge.
On February 24, 2010, President Obama formally nominated Feinerman for the vacancy created by Judge Robert William Gettleman, who took senior status
in May 2009.
On April 15, 2010, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
reported Feinerman's name to the full Senate.
The full Senate voted 80-0 to confirm Feinerman on June 28, 2010, and he was given his commission the next day.
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
.
Early life and education
Born in Skokie, IllinoisSkokie, Illinois
Skokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
, Feinerman earned an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1987 from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He graduated from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
witha law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1991, where he finished second in his class and was a member of Stanford Law Review
Stanford Law Review
The Stanford Law Review is a legal journal produced independently by Stanford Law School students. The journal was established in 1948 with future U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher as its first president...
and Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
.
From 1991 until 1992, Feinerman worked as a law clerk to United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:* Central District of Illinois* Northern District of Illinois...
Judge Joel Flaum
Joel Martin Flaum
Joel Martin Flaum is a United States federal judge.Born in Hudson, New York, Flaum received a B.A. from Union College in 1958, a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1963, and an LL.M. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1964. He was a U.S...
. From 1992 until 1993, Feinerman worked as an associate in the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown
Mayer Brown is an international law firm head-quartered in Chicago which specializes in commercial transactions and litigation. The firm employs more than 1,600 lawyers, including approximately 875 in the Americas, 425 in Europe and 300 in Asia....
. From 1993 until 1994, Feinerman worked as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Justice Anthony Kennedy
Anthony Kennedy
Anthony McLeod Kennedy is an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, having been appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Since the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor, Kennedy has often been the swing vote on many of the Court's politically charged 5–4 decisions...
.
Professional career
From 1994 until 1996, Feinerman worked for the United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
as Counsel to the Office of Policy Development and also on detail to the Office of the Counsel of the President in 1995.
From 1996 until 1999, Feinerman again worked as an associate for the Chicago law firm Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. He served as a partner at the firm from 2000 until 2003. While at Mayer Brown, Feinerman performed pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
work for the NAACP.
From 2003 until 2007, Feinerman worked in the office of the Illinois Attorney General as the state's Solicitor General.
In 2007, Feinerman joined the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin
Sidley Austin
Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is one of the oldest law firms in the world. It is the sixth-largest U.S.-based corporate law firm with more than 1,650 lawyers, annual revenues of more than one billion dollars, and offices in 17 cities worldwide, with the most...
as a partner, where he worked until becoming a United States district judge.
Nomination to federal district court
In 2009, Feinerman applied for a vacant federal judgeship in Chicago. In August 2009, Feinerman's name was one of seven that Sen. Dick Durbin submitted to the White House.On February 24, 2010, President Obama formally nominated Feinerman for the vacancy created by Judge Robert William Gettleman, who took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
in May 2009.
On April 15, 2010, the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
reported Feinerman's name to the full Senate.
The full Senate voted 80-0 to confirm Feinerman on June 28, 2010, and he was given his commission the next day.