Ruben Castillo (judge)
Encyclopedia
Ruben Castillo is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
.
to a Mexican father and a Puerto Rican
mother, Castillo was the first member of his family to finish college. Castillo earned a bachelor's degree
in political science in 1976 from Loyola University
in Chicago, working nights as a clerk at the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
to put himself through school. He then earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law
in 1979.
. In 1984, he was named an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney until 1988, when he became a regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund. In 1991, Castillo returned to private law practice, where he worked as a partner at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis
until 1994.
nominated Castillo to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
vacated by Nicholas John Bua
. At his confirmation hearing before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
on March 25, 1994, Castillo told senators that "...in my career I have had the privilege of serving various clients from all walks of life, from some of the corporate 100 organizations to individuals who had literally no assets, and I have always enjoyed the role of being the advocate for those clients, but I really came to a conclusion that I would like to have only one client from now on, and that client being justice, per se, and that is why I want to be a Federal district court judge."
Castillo was confirmed by the full United States Senate
on May 6, 1994, and received his commission on May 9, 1994. Upon his confirmation, Castillo became the first Latino federal judge in the state of Illinois.
He also served as a Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 1999-2010.
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....
.
Early life and education
Born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to a Mexican father and a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
mother, Castillo was the first member of his family to finish college. Castillo earned a bachelor's degree
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...
in political science in 1976 from Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
in Chicago, working nights as a clerk at the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County
The Circuit Court of Cook County is the largest of the 22 circuits in Illinois as well as one of the largest unified court systems in the world. It was created by a 1964 amendment to the Illinois Constitution which reorganized the courts of Illinois...
to put himself through school. He then earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. The law school was founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law of the Old University of Chicago. The first law school established in Chicago, it became jointly controlled by Northwestern University in...
in 1979.
Professional career
From 1979 until 1984, Castillo worked in private law practice in Chicago as an associate attorney for the law firm Jenner & BlockJenner & Block
Jenner & Block is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Approximately 450 attorneys serve a wide range of clients in corporate litigation, business transactions, and in the public sector. Jerold S. Solovy was the longtime Chair of the firm, but on Sept...
. In 1984, he was named an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney until 1988, when he became a regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund. In 1991, Castillo returned to private law practice, where he worked as a partner at the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is an international law firm with headquarters in Chicago, known for its profitability and its litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property and private equity departments. Kirkland & Ellis is currently ranked as the ninth most prestigious law firm in the United States by...
until 1994.
Federal judicial service
On January 27, 1994, President Bill ClintonBill 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...
nominated Castillo 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 Nicholas John Bua
Nicholas John Bua
Nicholas John Bua was a United States federal judge.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bua was in the United States Army in 1943. He received a J.D. from De Paul University College of Law in 1953. He was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1953 to 1963. He was a Presiding Judge, Melrose Park...
. At his confirmation hearing before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
on March 25, 1994, Castillo told senators that "...in my career I have had the privilege of serving various clients from all walks of life, from some of the corporate 100 organizations to individuals who had literally no assets, and I have always enjoyed the role of being the advocate for those clients, but I really came to a conclusion that I would like to have only one client from now on, and that client being justice, per se, and that is why I want to be a Federal district court judge."
Castillo was confirmed by the full 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 May 6, 1994, and received his commission on May 9, 1994. Upon his confirmation, Castillo became the first Latino federal judge in the state of Illinois.
He also served as a Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 1999-2010.