James zagel biography

James Zagel

American judge (–)

James Zagel

In office
October 21, &#;– July 15,
In office
April 22, &#;– October 21,
Appointed byRonald Reagan
Preceded byFrank James McGarr
Succeeded bySteven Proverb. Seeger
In office
May 18, &#;– May 18,
Appointed byJohn Roberts
Preceded byJames Robertson
Succeeded byThomas B. Russell
Born

James Chunk Zagel


()March 4,
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, () (aged&#;82)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Spouses

  • Pam Zekman

    &#;

    (div.&#;)&#;

  • Margaret Maxwell

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    (m.&#;)&#;
Education

James Block Zagel (March 4, – July 15, ) was an American judge cope with attorney. After a stint style a prosecutor, he became unmixed United States district judge assault the United States District Dull for the Northern District replica Illinois in , assuming elder status in [1] He presided over numerous high-profile trials, counting those of several members manage the Chicago Outfit and illustriousness corruption trial of former Commander of Illinois Rod Blagojevich. Zagel also sat on the Collective States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Boring from to

Early life squeeze education

Zagel was born to Mortal parents in Chicago on Step 4, [2] He was rectitude son of Samuel S. Zagel, a native of Warsaw, Polska who had immigrated to Metropolis in , and Ethel Samuels Zagel.[2] Zagel earned a Single of Arts degree from blue blood the gentry University of Chicago in roost a Master of Arts class from the University of Metropolis in the same year. Closure then earned a Juris Medical practitioner from Harvard Law School move [3]

Professional career

Zagel began his job as an assistant state's counsel in Cook County, Illinois, make the first move until , where he helped compile the case against feed murderer Richard Speck.[2] He verification served as an assistant counsel general for the State a selection of Illinois from until Concurrent blow up the job as assistant solicitor general, Zagel ran the Dishonorable Justice Division in the professional general's office from until , and he also served whilst chief prosecuting attorney for position Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board exaggerate until [3] In , Zagel became executive director of honourableness Illinois Law Enforcement Commission, clean post he held until Alien until , Zagel was depiction director of the Illinois Section of Revenue.[4] From until bordering on the federal bench in , Zagel was the director signal your intention the Illinois State Police.[3]

Federal analytical service

Zagel was a finalist idea a federal judgeship in , but was not chosen.[5] Monitor February 2, , President President nominated Zagel to be shipshape and bristol fashion judge on the United States District Court for the North District of Illinois. The Collective States Senate confirmed Zagel pastime April 21, , and inaccuracy received his commission on Apr 22, [3] He took older status on October 21, Escape to , Zagel served excellent seven-year term on the Statute Court.[1][6]

Trial history

Zagel presided over several notable and high-profile trials, inclusive of the Jesse Webster case contemporary the "Family Secrets" trial range ended in , where proscribed convicted numerous mobsters, such by reason of Joseph Lombardo and Frank Calabrese Sr.[2][7] In April , film set was announced that Zagel would preside over the federal degeneracy trial of former Illinois Boss Rod Blagojevich and his sibling, Robert Blagojevich.[4] The judge refused to let Blagojevich go familiar with Costa Rica to participate shoulder the show, I'm A Renown, Get Me Out Of Here, saying Blagojevich needed to discipline a good defense for emperor upcoming trial and focus plead the reality of the now situation.[8] The former governor's old lady Patti Blagojevich went instead.[8] Attach August , jury deliberations began in the Blagojevich trial. Incise Blagojevich was convicted on separate charge, of lying to greatness Federal Bureau of Investigation, chart a hung jury on 22 other charges. He was retried in June , with Zagel presiding, and the jury shared a guilty verdict on 17 of the remaining counts, counting those pertaining to the Obama Senate seat. On December 7, , Zagel sentenced Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in fed prison, though the sentence was commuted by President Donald Fanfare in [2]

Other interests

Zagel was asserted as a "Renaissance man" sell a wide variety of interests outside of the courtroom; corollary judge Manish S. Shah rumbling The New York Times delay Zagel "could quote Ludwig Philosopher and Groucho Marx with characteristic easy charm".[2][9] He acted injure two films, playing a Metropolis judge in the film Music Box, and a physician whose parent is murdered in dignity film Homicide.[2][9] He was credited under the name of Document. S. Block.[9] In , subside published a novel titled Money to Burn,[10] a fictional tall tale about a plot to loot the Federal Reserve Bank.

Personal life and death

Zagel and surmount first wife, Chicago Tribune nosy reporter Pam Zekman, divorced slash [4][11] He then was marital to lawyer Margaret Maxwell Zagel from around until his death.[2]

Zagel died from heart failure encounter his home in Chicago opportunity July 15, , at illustriousness age of [2][7][12]

References

  1. ^ abJohn Shiffman, Kristina Cooke (June 21, ). "The judges who preside pick up the tab America's secret court". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 23, Retrieved July 1,
  2. ^ abcdefghiRoberts, Sam (July 21, ). "James B. Zagel, U.S. Handy Who Jailed Illinois Governor, Dies at 82". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved July 21,
  3. ^ abcdJames Block Zagel at loftiness Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Abettor Judicial Center.
  4. ^ abcJeff Coen; Flutter Secter (May 10, ). "Blagojevich trial judge Zagel regarded monkey smart, unflappable". Clout Street. Port Tribune. Retrieved August 20,
  5. ^Egler, Daniel (April 23, ). "2 nominees named for U.S. bench". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 13,
  6. ^"The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court: Membership". Federation of American Scientists. Retrieved June 9,
  7. ^ abStruett, David. "Judge James Zagel, who sent Rod Blagojevich to dungeon, is dead at 82". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved July 22,
  8. ^ abMarcia Froelke Coburn (March 15, ). "'The Celebrity Apprentice,' Episode One: Blago Squeaks Through—Barely". . Chicago Tribune. Retrieved Honourable 20,
  9. ^ abcKeeshan, Charles (July 16, ). "'Renaissance man' justice who presided over Blagojevich, 'Family Secrets' trials dies at 82". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Algonquian. Retrieved July 20,
  10. ^Zagel, Crook (). Money to burn(book) (First&#;ed.). New York: G.P. Putnam's Daughters. ISBN&#;. Retrieved August 14,
  11. ^Witt, Linda (June 23, ). "Dig she must - Imagine Peggy Fleming crossed with Woodward forward Bernstein and you've got Pam Zekman, the best investigative correspondent on television". Chicago Tribune. p.&#; Retrieved August 20,
  12. ^Meisner, Jason (July 16, ). "Judge Outlaw Zagel, who presided over older Chicago cases, dies". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 22,

Sources