CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 36
(Extensions of Remarks - February 27, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
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HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 200th
anniversary of the United States District Court for the Northern
District of Illinois. It is an honor to recognize a court with such a
rich and impactful history at the heart of the American judiciary
system.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois traces
its roots back to Illinois' establishment. Nathaniel Pope, serving as
the Territory of Illinois' Secretary from inception in 1809, became its
Delegate to Congress in 1816. There, he worked tirelessly on part of
the territory's eventual admission to the Union as the state of
Illinois in 1818. As such, it was only a natural progression for him to
be nominated and confirmed as the first Judge of its new District,
bringing with him strong anti-slavery views.
Eventually, the United States District Court for the District of
Illinois was subdivided into the Northern and Southern District Courts
in 1855. The Northern District led by its first judge, Judge Thomas
Drummond, continued the tradition of protecting the rights of all
people. One such example, was through the sentencing of the
abolitionist John Hossack, who had violated the Fugitive Slave Act by
abetting a runaway slave. Judge Drummond, conflicted between his duty
to the rule of law and his abolitionist conscience, recognized Hossack
was guilty of breaking the law, but chose to hand down a minimal
sentence for the transaction. Even as the Civil War raged on, Judge
Drummond balanced his sense of duty and patriotism, actively supporting
the Union and President Lincoln while still defending the Chicago
Times' right to freedom of speech and criticism.
Today the court exists as the Northern District of Illinois and is
led by Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. It has grown considerably during its
200 years and now contains 22 judicial posts, ensuring further public
and juris prudential access to its resources and rulings. I am grateful
to the District Court and its people, for laws are useless without
justice.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on the
200th anniversary of the courts establishment. Through its celebration,
we pay tribute not only to our institutions and the rule of law, but to
our long-standing history of justice.
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