Chicago’s federal court getting its first female chief judge

For the first time in its 200-year history, a female judge will become the leader of the federal court in Chicago.

U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer will become chief judge for the Northern District of Illinois on Monday, taking the reins from U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo. He had announced in March that he planned to step down.

Born in Tokyo, Pallmeyer became a district judge in 1998 following her nomination by President Bill Clinton. She also had served as a federal magistrate judge, starting in 1991.

Her long tenure in Chicago’s federal courthouse has included presiding over the corruption trial of former Gov. George Ryan. She sentenced him in 2006 to six-and-a-half years in prison. A few years ago, she also handed a nine-year sentence to a man who helped plot the murder of Heather Mack’s mother in Bali.

Now, Pallmeyer is presiding over the high-profile case of Teamster boss John Coli, accused of attempted extortion.

Pallmeyer has also served as the chair of the Northern District of Illinois Court Historical Association. Last year, she spoke before the opening of a new court museum on the 21^st floor of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, beside her old courtroom.

“In an era when government institutions of all kinds are criticized and are viewed with suspicion, the court has stood as a pillar of decency, of courage, of justice and of commitment to the rule of law,” Pallmeyer said that day.

By law, the district judge with the most seniority who is not yet 65 years old fills the chief judge vacancy.

Pallmeyer follows Castillo, who broke barriers on July 1, 2013, by becoming the first Latino to serve as Chicago’s chief federal judge. The son of immigrants, Castillo grew up in West Town. He was also nominated by Clinton in 1994, and joined the court the same year.

“I am extremely pleased to be followed by someone who so deeply loves our court,” Castillo said in a statement earlier this year.