Speaker

U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

Speaker Bio

Judge James Shadid has been on a United States District Judge since March of 2011. He was Chief Judge of the District from 2012 to 2019. Prior to sitting on the Federal bench, Judge Shadid was a Circuit Judge for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Illinois from December of 2001 until March of 2011. A native of Peoria, Judge Shadid attended Bradley University and John Marshall Law School. After gradating from law school, he returned to Peoria where he was engaged in private practice of law from 1983 until 2001. While in private practice, he served also as an Assistant Public Defender, originally in juvenile but serving 14 years in felony court. He has served as adjunct professor at several nearby colleges and universities during his professional career, including Bradley University, John Marshall Law School and University of Illinois College of Law.