The US Senate has officially confirmed Sunil Harjani, an Indian American federal Magistrate Judge from Joliet and a graduate of Northwestern University, as a federal district court judge for the Northern District of Illinois based in Chicago.
Sunil Harjani’s confirmation, with a 53-46 Senate vote, marks a historic moment as he becomes the first South Asian American to hold the position of a US district judge in the Northern District of Illinois. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois expressed satisfaction with his confirmation, highlighting his impeccable qualifications and extensive courtroom experience, notably serving as a Magistrate Judge since 2019.
Sunil Harjani has held various positions in his legal career, such as serving as an Assistant US Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section in the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 2008 to 2019. Additionally, he worked in federal civil litigation at the US Securities & Exchange Commission and served as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago. Harjani graduated from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2000, completing his JD and undergraduate studies at Northwestern University in 1997.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) celebrated Harjani’s confirmation, highlighting his vast experience and the historical significance of becoming the first South Asian American US Magistrate in the Northern District of Illinois. Executive Director Priya Purandare expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for nominating Harjani and Senators Durbin, Duckworth, Warner, and Kaine for their support during the nomination process.
