George W. Lindberg

George Wakem Lindberg (born June 21, 1932) is a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Early life

Born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Lindberg received both his bachelor's and juris doctorate degrees from Northwestern University in 1954 and 1957, respectively.

Lindberg was the vice president and legal counsel for John E. Reid and Associates in Chicago from 1955 to 1968, becoming an expert in financial fraud investigations.[1] In 1966, Lindberg was elected to the first of three terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving until 1972.[2] During his tenure in the General Assembly, Lindberg was a private practice attorney in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in McHenry County from 1968 until 1973. While in the state legislature, he was the architect of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.[1] His proposed legislation provided for campaign disclosures, but these provisions did not make the final bill passed by the General Assembly.[1] Lindberg also served as chair of a special Illinois House committee investigating judicial misconduct, which resulted in the resignation of two Illinois Supreme Court justices.[1]

In 1972, Lindberg won election as the Comptroller of Illinois and served until 1977.[2] Lindberg's voluntary disclosure of personal political spending from his 1972 campaign—something he did every year as comptroller—was a first for an Illinois statewide-officeholder, and drew widespread praise.[1] He was defeated for re-election in 1976 by Democrat Michael Bakalis.

After completing his term as comptroller, Lindberg was appointed Deputy State Attorney General for the state of Illinois, and served from 1977 to 1978 before winning election in 1978 as a judge in the Illinois Appellate Court representing the Second Judicial (Elgin) District. Ten years later, he was retained for a second ten-year term with 78% of the vote.[3] He served on the appellate court until his appointment to the Federal Bench in 1989.[2]

Election history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1976 Illinois Comptroller General George W. Lindberg (Inc.) Republican 2,117,977 47.55 Michael Bakalis Democratic 2,298,074 51.59
1972 Illinois Comptroller General George W. Lindberg Republican 2,217,440 51.16 Dean Barringer Democratic 2,094,798 48.33

Federal judicial career

On the recommendation of Congressman Henry Hyde, Lindberg was nominated by President George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Prentice Marshall. Lindberg was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 3, 1989, and received his commission on November 6, 1989. Lindberg assumed senior status on June 21, 2001, and has since continued service as a senior judge.[2]

Notes

Sources

Legal offices
Preceded by
Prentice Marshall
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
November 6, 1989 June 21, 2001
Succeeded by
Amy J. St. Eve
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael J. Howlett
as Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts
Illinois Comptroller
1973 1977
Succeeded by
Michael Bakalis
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