U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the names of two new members to serve on a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Central District of Illinois. Durbin has asked small business owner and attorney, J. Victor Malkovich of Champaign and Macon County Assistant State's Attorney, Ruth Waller to serve on the Central Illinois Judicial Screening Panel.
There are two federal judgeships in central Illinois that are now, or soon will become, vacant. Judges Michael Mihm and Jeanne Scott announced their intention to retire earlier this summer. Today's expansion of the Central District screening panel was needed to deal with the anticipated number of applications for those positions.
The immediate task of the Central Illinois screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Senator Durbin for two Federal District Court Judge positions in the Central District.
Applications for these positions are available on Senator Durbin's website. The application questionnaire is nearly identical to that used by the Senate Judiciary Committee and will help provide insight into potential nominees' backgrounds and qualifications. The deadline for submission of completed applications is November 2, 2009.