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Amy St. Eve

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Amy St. Eve

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United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Tenure

2018 - Present

Years in position

5

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Education

Bachelor's

Cornell University, 1987

Law

Cornell Law School, 1990

Personal
Birthplace
Belleville, Ill.

Amy J. St. Eve is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 14, 2018, on a recorded vote of 91 - 0, and received her commission on May 23, 2018.[1][2] President Donald Trump (R) nominated St. Eve to the Seventh Circuit on February 15, 2018.[3]

At the time of her 2018 nomination, St. Eve was a federal district (Article III) judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Early life and education

St. Eve is a native of Illinois who attended Cornell University for both her undergraduate and legal studies. St. Eve received her bachelor's degree in 1987 and her J.D. in 1990.[4]

Professional career

  • Private practice, New York City, 1990-1994
  • Associate independent counsel, Whitewater Independent Counsel's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1994-1996
  • Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1996-2001
  • Senior counsel, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, 2001-2002[4]

Judicial nominations and appointments

Federal judicial nomination

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2018)

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Amy St. Eve
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Progress
Confirmed 88 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: February 15, 2018
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire:
ApprovedAHearing: March 21, 2018
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: April 19, 2018 
ApprovedAConfirmed: May 14, 2018
ApprovedAVote: 91 - 0


President Trump nominated St. Eve to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit on February 12, 2018.[3] She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 14, 2018, on a recorded vote of 91 - 0, and she received her commission on May 23, 2018.[1][2]

Northern District of Illinois (2002)

See also: Federal judges nominated by George W. Bush

St. Eve was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President George W. Bush on March 21, 2002, to a seat vacated by George Lindberg. St. Eve was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2002, and received her commission on August 2, 2002.[4]

Noteworthy cases

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker (2020)

See also: Lawsuits about state actions and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker: On June 15, 2020, the Illinois Republican Party, together with three local Republican groups, filed suit against Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In their complaint, Republicans argued that their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights had been violated because, "unlike churches, political parties are barred from gathering in groups greater than 10 under the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-38." Republicans said that "[w]hen the state grants access to one set of speakers, it must give equal access and treatment to all speakers of a similar character," contrasting their treatment to both that of churches and protesters. They have asked the court to enjoin the state from enforcing Executive Order 2020-38 against political parties. Pritzker’s spokeswoman, Jordan Abudayyeh, said, "[As] the Republicans who attended protests against the public health guidance are well aware, the State has never prevented people from exercising their First Amendment rights."[5][6]

On July 2, 2020, Judge Sara Lee Ellis, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, denied Republicans' motion for an injunction against the gathering-size restriction (which was subsequently raised to 50 people). Republicans appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On Sept. 3, a three-judge panel rejected the appeal, finding that precedent "does not compel the Governor to treat all gatherings alike." The panel further concluded that "free exercise of religion enjoys express constitutional protection, and the Governor was entitled to carve out some room for religion, even while he declined to do so for other activities." Finally, the court emphasized that re-subjecting religious gatherings to the mandatory cap would "leave the Republicans no better off than they are today." Chief Judge Diane Wood and Judges Amy St. Eve and Amy Coney Barrett sat on the panel and were unanimous in their decision.[7][8]

Daniel Suhr, counsel for the Republican Party, said in a statement, "We are disappointed in the decision, respectfully disagree with it, and are considering our options."[9]

Tony Rezko corruption case (2008)

See also: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (United States v. Antoin Rezko, 1:05-cr-00691)

Judge St. Eve presided over the case involving Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Rezko was a one-time Barack Obama associate and had connections to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Antoin "Tony" Rezko was found guilty by a jury on 16 the 24 counts, including scheming to get kickbacks out of money management firms wanting state business and a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois. He was acquitted of charges that included attempted extortion.

"What the jury did was vindicate the interests of the citizens of Illinois and honest government," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

The nine-week trial included explosive testimony about all-night drug parties involving the government's star witness and allegations that the governor discussed a state job for a supporter after the donor handed over a $25,000 check for Blagojevich's campaign. Testimony barely touched on the relationship between Obama and Rezko, who knew the then Democratic presidential candidate since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with him. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors said Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Governor Blagojevich.

Duffy and other defense attorneys maintained that the government had little evidence tying him to corruption and that the star witness, admitted political fixer Stuart P. Levine, was not credible because years of drug use had damaged his memory. Levine was a member of a state board that decided which hospitals were built and on a panel that decided which investment firms received allocations from a $40 billion fund that paid pensions of retired teachers. Levine testified that Rezko, drawing on the political clout he developed as a Blagojevich fundraiser, stacked both boards with members who could be relied upon to follow orders when big-money decisions came up. Prosecutors said he used that clout to shake down companies and individuals hoping for state business for $7 million in kickbacks.

While Obama's name rarely surfaced, the case focused attention on Obama's relationship with Rezko, a man Hillary Clinton derided in one televised debate as a "slum landlord". Rezko, a real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, had been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed. Rezko donated more than $21,000 to Obama and raised far more for his campaigns in Illinois, though not his presidential bid. Levine also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time from a couple who insisted on selling both pieces of property simultaneously. The purchase raised questions about the extent of his help. The charges against Rezko had nothing to do with Obama, who later donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity.

Rezko, 52, was charged with scheming with Levine to split a $1.5 million kickback from a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois and to shake down money management firms wanting to invest in the teacher pension fund.[10]

St. Eve handed down Rezko's sentence on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. Rezko was sentenced to 10 1/2 years in prison with credit for 3 1/2 years of imprisonment while awaiting sentencing, less than the 11 to 15 that prosecutors asked for. At the sentencing, Judge St. Eve said to Rezko, "You defrauded the people of Illinois, you engaged in extensive corruption throughout the state of Illinois."[11]

Publishing magnate Lord Conrad Black fraud case (2007)

See also: United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (United States, v. Conrad M. Black, et al., 05-cr-727)

St. Eve also presided over another high profile case including former media baron Conrad Black, formerly the head of Hollinger International publishing company. Black was charged with eight counts of mail fraud and wire fraud for allegedly looting millions of dollars from Hollinger International. In an 11-count indictment, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago accused Black and three other former executives of Hollinger International of diverting money that should have gone to the company and its shareholders.

On July 13, 2007, a jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois found Black guilty of obstruction of justice and three counts of mail fraud, following a 15-week trial in a Chicago courtroom and more than two weeks of jury deliberation. After his conviction, Black surrendered his U.K. passport and gave the judge an address of where he could be located. St. Eve explained that if Black did not show up, his $21-million bail would be forfeited. She added that he must remain in Chicago until his sentencing.[12]

At an afternoon news conference after the verdicts were read, U.S. prosecuting attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald told reporters, "I don't like using words like 'victory' to treat it like a basketball game," but said the prosecution team was "very content" with the charges that stuck. Fitzgerald also stated, "I will simply say this: He was charged, he's now a convicted felon — convicted for very serious fraud charges and convicted of obstructing justice, and I'll leave it at that," Fitzgerald said.

The nine-woman, three-man jury found the Montreal-born Black not guilty on nine other charges, including mail fraud, wire fraud, racketeering and tax fraud. In the wake of their decision, none of the 12 jurors agreed to speak to the media. Kipnis, Boultbee, and Atkinson, were all convicted of three counts each of mail fraud, meaning they could each face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 U.S.

On December 10, 2007, Black was sentenced to 6½ years in prison for his role in the misappropriation of millions of dollars from the newspaper empire he once headed. Black did not begin his sentence until March 2008. Black was also fined $125,000 U.S. Black, who remained expressionless as his sentence was pronounced in federal court, was also ordered to forfeit $6.1 million U.S. — the estimated amount of the fraud, according to a pre-sentence report. Under U.S. rules, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. Black's chief sentencing lawyer, Jeffrey Steinback, argued for leniency. He described Black as a devoted family man and a respected historian. He also said Black should not be expected to show remorse as he filed notice that he planned to appeal his convictions. Steinback also said Black's obstruction of justice conviction was not typical, in that it involved no bribery. "In his heart," Black believes he did nothing wrong, Steinback said. More than 100 letters of support were filed with the court on Black's behalf from such luminaries as former prime minister Brian Mulroney, pop star Elton John, U.S. political commentator Rush Limbaugh, and Canadian Nobel Prize winner John Polanyi.

In his address to the court, prosecutor Eric Sussman said Black's crimes deserved a lengthy sentence, in part because of the disdain and defiance Black showed for the judicial process. He referred to the emails Black exchanged with the CBC's Mike Hornbrook as one example of that, when Black said prison would be a "bore." The judge ruled the prosecution failed to make its case that the fraud amounted to $32 million U.S., and based the sentence on the $6.1-million U.S. loss estimated in the pre-sentencing report.[13]

Further reading

See also

External links


Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
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United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
2018-Present
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
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United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
2002-2018
Succeeded by
-