190th Anniversary of Federal Courts in Illinois

On March 3, 2009 the United States District Court for the N.D. Illinois marked the 190th anniversary of federal courts in the State of Illinois with a celebration that included both a program on the history of the Illinois federal courts and the opening of an exhibit entitled: "The 190th Anniversary of the United States District Court in Illinois: A Celebration of the Federal Judiciary's Contribution to Illinois and the Nation."

Historian and author Richard Cahan, who wrote A Court That Shaped America:Chicago's Federal District Court from Abe Lincoln to Abbie Hoffman, provided a commentary on the highlights of the federal court's 190 years of service in Illinois. Mr. Cahan's remarks were followed by a panel discussion of Northern District judges, past and present, moderated by Circuit Judge William J. Bauer.

As part of the Anniversary Exhibit, court artifacts, photographs and sketches were displayed demontrating the contributions and impact of the federal court system, and
the role it plays in our tripartite system of government. Materials for the display were culled from the records and photographs of the Northern District of Illinois
Court Historical Association, the Chicago History Museum, the National Archives & Records Administration/Great Lakes Region, the Library of Congress, and
sketches by courtroom artists of famous trials in the court. The Exhibit was available to the public for free admission from March 3 - May 1, 2009.

190th Anniversary Brochure written by Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole (N.D. Ill)