George W. Lindberg
Encyclopedia
George Wakem Lindberg is a United States federal judge
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
, one of the busiest Federal Courts in the nation.
, Lindberg received both his bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from Northwestern University
, in 1954 and 1957, respectively.
, serving until 1972. During his tenure in the General Assembly, Lindberg was a private practice attorney in the Chicago Suburb of Crystal Lake
, in McHenry County
, from 1968 until 1973. While in the state legislature, he was the architect of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. His proposed legislation provided for campaign disclosures, but these provisions did not make it into the final bill passed by the General Assembly. Lindberg also served as chair of a special Illinois House committee investigating judicial misconduct, an investigation resulting in the resignation of two Illinois Supreme Court justices.
In 1972, Lindberg won election as the State comptroller of Illinois and served until 1977. Lindberg's voluntary disclosure of personal political spending from his 1972 campaign, something he did every year as Comptroller, was a first for an Illinois statewide office holder, and drew widespread praise. He was defeated for re-election in 1976 by Democrat
Michael Bakalis
.
After completing his term as Comptroller, Lindberg was appointed Deputy state attorney general for the State of Illinois, and served from 1977 to 1978 before winning election in 1978 as a judge in the Illinois Appellate Court
representing the Second Judicial (Elgin) District. Ten years later, he was retained for a second ten-year term with 78% of the vote. He served on the appellate court until his appointment to the Federal Bench in 1989.
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Office
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Election
!
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Subject
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Party
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Votes
!bgcolor=#cccccc |%
!
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Opponent
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Party
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Votes
!bgcolor=#cccccc |%
|-
|1976
|Illinois Comptroller
|General
|
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |George W. Lindberg (Inc.)
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |Republican
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |2,117,977
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |47.55
|
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Michael Bakalis
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Democratic
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |2,298,074
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |51.59
|-
|1972
|Illinois Comptroller
|General
|
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |George W. Lindberg
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |Republican
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |2,217,440
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |51.16
|
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Dean Barringer
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Democratic
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |2,094,798
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |48.33
|-
, Lindberg was nominated by President George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
vacated by Prentice Marshall
. Lindberg was confirmed by the United States Senate
on November 3, 1989, and received his commission on November 6, 1989. Lindberg assumed senior status on June 21, 2001 and has since continued service as a senior judge.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
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....
, one of the busiest Federal Courts in the nation.
Early life
Born in Crystal Lake, IllinoisCrystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
, Lindberg received both his bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, in 1954 and 1957, respectively.
Legal and Political Career
Lindberg was the Vice president and legal counsel John E. Reid and Associates in Chicago from 1955 to 1968, becoming an expert in financial fraud investigations. In 1966, Lindberg was elected to the first of three terms in the Illinois House of RepresentativesIllinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, serving until 1972. During his tenure in the General Assembly, Lindberg was a private practice attorney in the Chicago Suburb of Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
, in McHenry County
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
, from 1968 until 1973. While in the state legislature, he was the architect of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. His proposed legislation provided for campaign disclosures, but these provisions did not make it into the final bill passed by the General Assembly. Lindberg also served as chair of a special Illinois House committee investigating judicial misconduct, an investigation resulting in the resignation of two Illinois Supreme Court justices.
In 1972, Lindberg won election as the State comptroller of Illinois and served until 1977. Lindberg's voluntary disclosure of personal political spending from his 1972 campaign, something he did every year as Comptroller, was a first for an Illinois statewide office holder, and drew widespread praise. He was defeated for re-election in 1976 by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Michael Bakalis
Michael Bakalis
Michael J. Bakalis is an American academic and politician. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois in 1978, losing to incumbent Republican governor James R. Thompson....
.
After completing his term as Comptroller, Lindberg was appointed Deputy state attorney general for the State of Illinois, and served from 1977 to 1978 before winning election in 1978 as a judge in the Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Appellate Court
The Illinois Appellate Court is the court of first appeal for civil and criminal cases arising in the Illinois Circuit Courts. Three Illinois Appellate Court judges hear each case and the concurrence of two is necessary to render a decision. The Illinois Appellate Court will render its opinion in...
representing the Second Judicial (Elgin) District. Ten years later, he was retained for a second ten-year term with 78% of the vote. He served on the appellate court until his appointment to the Federal Bench in 1989.
Election History
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Year!bgcolor=#cccccc |Office
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Election
!
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Subject
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Party
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Votes
!bgcolor=#cccccc |%
!
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Opponent
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Party
!bgcolor=#cccccc |Votes
!bgcolor=#cccccc |%
|-
|1976
|Illinois Comptroller
|General
|
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |George W. Lindberg (Inc.)
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |2,117,977
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |47.55
|
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Michael Bakalis
Michael Bakalis
Michael J. Bakalis is an American academic and politician. He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Illinois in 1978, losing to incumbent Republican governor James R. Thompson....
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |2,298,074
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |51.59
|-
|1972
|Illinois Comptroller
|General
|
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |George W. Lindberg
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |2,217,440
|bgcolor=#FFE8E8 |51.16
|
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Dean Barringer
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |2,094,798
|bgcolor=#DDEEFF |48.33
|-
Federal Judicial Career
On the recommendation of Congressman Henry HydeHenry Hyde
Henry John Hyde , an American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 2007, representing the 6th District of Illinois, an area of Chicago's northwestern suburbs which included O'Hare International Airport...
, Lindberg was nominated by President George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
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....
vacated by Prentice Marshall
Prentice Marshall
Prentice Henry Marshall was a United States District judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.- Early life and education :...
. Lindberg was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on November 3, 1989, and received his commission on November 6, 1989. Lindberg assumed senior status on June 21, 2001 and has since continued service as a senior judge.