Amy Joan St. Eve (born November 20, 1965) is an American lawyer and jurist serving since 2018 as a U.S. circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She previously served as a U.S. district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2002 to 2018.

Amy St. Eve
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Assumed office
May 23, 2018
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byAnn Claire Williams
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office
August 2, 2002 – May 23, 2018
Appointed byGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byGeorge W. Lindberg
Succeeded byMary M. Rowland
Personal details
Born (1965-11-20) November 20, 1965 (age 59)
Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
EducationCornell University (BA, JD)

Early life and education

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Raised in Belleville, Illinois,[1] St. Eve received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University in 1987.[2] She then attended Cornell Law School, where she was an editor of the Cornell Law Review. She graduated in 1990 ranked first in her class with a Juris Doctor.[3]

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Following law school graduation, St. Eve was in private practice at Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City from 1990 to 1994. She was an associate independent counsel at the Whitewater Independent Counsel's Office in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1994 to 1996, where she successfully prosecuted former Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker and Whitewater partners Jim and Susan McDougal for fraud.[4]

From 1996 to 2001, St. Eve served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She was a Senior Counsel for Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, from 2001 to 2002, when she became a federal judge.

Federal judicial career

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District court service

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On March 21, 2002, St. Eve was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Judge George W. Lindberg, who assumed senior status. She was recommended for the post by United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald.[4] Fitzgerald told the Chicago Tribune in 2003 that before St. Eve applied for the judgeship, "I didn't know Amy or know anyone who knew Amy. I was looking for the best qualified person."[1] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2002, and received her commission the following day. Her service on the district court terminated in 2018, when she was elevated to the court of appeals.[2]

St. Eve was reportedly considered by the Trump administration for the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after the dismissal of James Comey, but ultimately did not receive the job as it went to Christopher A. Wray.[5][6]

Court of appeals service

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On February 12, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate St. Eve to an undetermined seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On February 15, 2018, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Trump nominated St. Eve to the seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by Judge Ann Claire Williams, who assumed senior status on June 5, 2017.[7] On March 21, 2018, a hearing on her nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[8] On April 19, 2018, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 21–0 vote.[9] On May 14, 2018, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by a 91–0 vote.[10] She received her judicial commission on May 23, 2018.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ylisela, Jim (July 20, 2003). "Law in the fast lane; A federal judge at 36, she keeps her courtroom—and family life—on schedule". Chicago Tribune. p. 20.
  2. ^ a b c Amy St. Eve at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  3. ^ Myers, Linda Brandt (1 January 2017). "Hon. Amy J. St. Eve '90". Cornell Law School.
  4. ^ a b Hanna, Janan (January 21, 2002). "Fitzgerald makes pick for U.S. judge; Corporate lawyer was prosecutor". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  5. ^ Maynard, Roy (May 11, 2017). "Tyler native Michael Luttig reportedly being considered to lead the FBI".
  6. ^ Zapotosky, Matt (May 10, 2017). "Justice Department interviewing candidates for Comey's interim replacement". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ "PN1648 – Nomination of Amy J. St. Eve for The Judiciary, 115th Congress (2017–2018)". www.congress.gov. March 21, 2018.
  8. ^ "Nominations – United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary". www.judiciary.senate.gov. 21 March 2018.
  9. ^ Results of Executive Business Meeting – April 19, 2018, Senate Judiciary Committee
  10. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation Amy J. St. Eve, of Illinois, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit)". United States Senate. May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
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Legal offices
Preceded by Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
2002–2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
2018–present
Incumbent