John Z. Lee | |
|---|---|
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| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit | |
| Assumed office September 9, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Diane Wood |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | |
| In office May 8, 2012 – September 12, 2022 | |
| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David H. Coar |
| Succeeded by | Lindsay C. Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Zihun Lee (1968-03-30)March 30, 1968 (age 57) Aachen,West Germany (nowGermany) |
| Education | Harvard University (AB,JD) |
John Zihun Lee (born March 30, 1968)[1][2] is an American lawyer serving as aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He served as a United States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 2012 to 2022.
Lee was born inAachen,Germany.[1] He graduated fromHarvard College in 1989 with aBachelor of Arts,magna cum laude, and fromHarvard Law School in 1992 with aJuris Doctor,cum laude.
He first worked as a trial attorney in theUnited States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. He worked as an associate atMayer Brown, awhite shoe Chicago law firm, from 1994 to 1996 and theboutique law firm of Grippo & Elden LLC from 1996 to 1999. He was a partner at Freeborn & Peters LLP in Chicago, where he handled complex federalcivil litigation.[3][4] In the fall of 2000, he was anadjunct professor atThe John Marshall Law School teaching a course on antitrust law. In the fall terms of 1990 and 1991, while ateaching fellow atHarvard University, he taught a class onGreek mythology.[1]
On November 10, 2011, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Lee to be aUnited States district judge for theNorthern District of Illinois.[3] He was nominated to the seat vacated by JudgeDavid H. Coar, who assumedsenior status on August 12, 2009. Lee received his hearing by theSenate Judiciary Committee on January 26, 2012, and his nomination was favorably reported by the committee on February 16, 2012, by avoice vote, with SenatorMike Lee recording the only no vote.[5] On May 7, 2012, his nomination was confirmed by a voice vote.[6] He received his commission on May 8, 2012.[4] His service as a district judge was terminated on September 12, 2022, when he was elevated to the court of appeals.[4]
In July 2018, Lee, sitting by designation, wrote for the unanimous panel of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit inDoe No. 55 v. Madison Metropolitan School District when it found that theMadison Metropolitan School District was not liable for child sex abuse of a student by its security guard because the school's principal had not had actual knowledge of the abuse.[7][8] This decision was affirmeden banc.[9]
On May 3, 2020, Lee ruled that GovernorJ. B. Pritzker'sstay-at-home order during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Illinois was constitutional, after anEvangelical church sought an injunction against the order in order to continue worship services.[10]
On April 13, 2022, PresidentJoe Biden announced his intent to nominate Lee to serve as aUnited States circuit judge for theSeventh Circuit.[11] On April 25, 2022, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Lee to the seat to be vacated by JudgeDiane Wood, who announced her intent to assumesenior status upon confirmation of a successor.[12] On May 11, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[13] During his confirmation hearing, Republican senators criticized him over his decision to upholdJ. B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order, which limited in-person church services.[14] On June 9, 2022, his nomination was favorably reported by the committee by a 12–8–2 vote.[15] On August 7, 2022, Majority LeaderChuck Schumer filedcloture on his nomination.[16] On September 6, 2022, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 48–42 vote.[17] On September 7, 2022, his nomination was confirmed by a 50–44 vote.[18] He received his judicial commission on September 9, 2022.[4] He is the first Asian American judge to ever serve on the 7th Circuit.[19]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 2012–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit 2022–present | Incumbent |