Ilana Rovner | |
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| Senior Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office July 10, 2024 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| In office August 17, 1992 – July 10, 2024 | |
| Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Harlington Wood Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Nancy L. Maldonado |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | |
| In office September 12, 1984 – August 17, 1992 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Joel Flaum |
| Succeeded by | David H. Coar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ilana Kara Diamond (1938-08-21)August 21, 1938 (age 87) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Richard Rovner (died 2009) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Bryn Mawr College (BA) King's College London Georgetown University Illinois Institute of Technology (JD) |
Ilana Kara Diamond Rovner (Latvian:Ilana Rovnere, born August 21, 1938) is aseniorUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.[1] Rovner was the first woman appointed to the Seventh Circuit.[2] She was previously a United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Rovner was born inRiga,Latvia to middle-classJewish parents.[3] While an infant, she and her mother immigrated to the United States duringWorld War II from Latvia to escape itsoccupation by Nazi Germany. She earned herArtium Baccalaureus degree fromBryn Mawr College in 1960. She studied atKing's College London for one year and attendedGeorgetown University Law Center for two years before moving toChicago. She received aJuris Doctor fromChicago-Kent College of Law in 1966. She was a legal researcher forRichard J. Phelan ofChicago, Illinois in 1971.[4]
She was a law clerk for JudgeJames Benton Parsons of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1972 to 1973. She was anassistant United States attorney of the Northern District of Illinois from 1973 to 1977, serving as Deputy Chief of the Public Protection Unit from 1975 to 1976 and chief of the Public Protection Unit from 1976 to 1977. She was a deputy governor and legal counsel for GovernorJames R. Thompson ofIllinois from 1977 to 1984.[5] Her husband, Richard Rovner, died in 2009.[6]
On June 19, 1984, PresidentRonald Reagan nominated Rovner to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by JudgeJoel Flaum. She was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on September 12, 1984, and received commission the same day. Her service was terminated on August 17, 1992, due to elevation to the court of appeals.[5]
On July 2, 1992, PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush nominated Rovner to a seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated by JudgeHarlington Wood Jr. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 12, 1992, and received her commission on August 17, 1992.[5]
On January 12, 2024, Rovner informed PresidentJoe Biden that she would be assumingsenior status upon confirmation of her successor.[7] She assumed senior status on July 10, 2024.[5]
On April 20, 2018, Rovner ruled against PresidentDonald Trump's policy punishingsanctuary cities. She said allowing federal agencies to add conditions to grant funds without explicit congressional authority could lead to "tyranny."[8] Rovner wrote, "The Attorney General in this case used the sword of federal funding to conscript state and local authorities to aid in federal civil immigration enforcement. But thepower of the purse rests withCongress, which authorized the federal funds at issue and did not impose any immigration enforcement conditions on the receipt of such funds. It falls to us, the judiciary, as the remaining branch of the government, to act as a check on such usurpation of power." Rovner was joined by JudgeWilliam J. Bauer upholding thenationwide injunction against the policy. JudgeDaniel Anthony Manion partially dissented, saying he would narrow the injunction to protect only the city of Chicago.[9]
On August 27, 2019, Rovner joined JudgeDavid Hamilton in blocking Indiana'sparental notification requirement forabortions for minors. JudgeMichael Kanne dissented. On November 1, 2019, the 7th Circuit denieden banc by a vote of 6–5, with Rovner in the majority. JudgeFrank Easterbrook, who provided a decisive vote, called on the Supreme Court to hear the case.[10] In July 2020, the Supreme Court ordered a re-hearing in the case.[11]
On October 16, 2025, Rovner was one of three judges who blocked the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard against protesters in Chicago.[12][13]. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court[14], and on December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court declined to reverse the ruling blocking National Guard deployment.[15][16][17]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 1984–1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 1992–2024 | Succeeded by |
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