Rebecca R. Pallmeyer
Encyclopedia
Rebecca R. Pallmeyer is a United States federal judge
in the Northern District of Illinois.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Judge Pallmeyer received a B.A.
from Valparaiso University
in 1976 and a J.D.
from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1979. She was a law clerk
to the Hon. Rosalie E. Wahl
, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, from 1979 to 1980. She was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1980 to 1985. She was an administrative law judge on the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 1986 to 1991. She was a U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1991 to 1998.
Judge Pallmeyer was nominated by President Bill Clinton
on July 31, 1998, to a seat vacated by Judge William T. Hart. She was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 21, 1998, and received her commission on October 22, 1998.
Judge Pallmeyer was the judge who coordinated the brief visits of former Governor and Secretary of State of Illinois, Governor George Ryan
, currently imprisoned in a Terre Haute, Indiana
, federal prison, to his wife, former Illinois First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan
, who died of cancer in the summer of 2011.
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....
in the Northern District of Illinois.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Judge Pallmeyer received a B.A.
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...
from Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
in 1976 and a J.D.
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...
from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1979. She was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to the Hon. Rosalie E. Wahl
Rosalie E. Wahl
Rosalie Wahl is an American lawyer and judge from Minnesota. She was the first woman in state history named to the Minnesota Supreme Court....
, Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, from 1979 to 1980. She was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1980 to 1985. She was an administrative law judge on the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 1986 to 1991. She was a U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1991 to 1998.
Judge Pallmeyer was nominated by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on July 31, 1998, to a seat vacated by Judge William T. Hart. She 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 October 21, 1998, and received her commission on October 22, 1998.
Judge Pallmeyer was the judge who coordinated the brief visits of former Governor and Secretary of State of Illinois, Governor George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
, currently imprisoned in a Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, federal prison, to his wife, former Illinois First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan
Lura Lynn Ryan
Lura Lynn Ryan was the First Lady of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 to 2003. She was the wife of former Illinois Governor George Ryan.-Early life:...
, who died of cancer in the summer of 2011.