Judge Thomas Kirsch of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently completed a multi-day visit at the College of Law, as the inaugural Jurist in Residence. The newly launched program aims to deepen the College’s connections to the bench, inspire students to pursue judicial clerkships, and provide them with the opportunity to learn from leading legal minds. Although Jurist in Residence programs are not uncommon at law schools around the country, the University of Illinois College of Law is one of only two law schools in the state to formalize the initiative. Moving forward, the College intends to host a Jurist in Residence on an annual basis.
Executive Assistant Dean for Career Planning and Professional Development Greg Miarecki, who was instrumental in the creation and launch of the program, said “Our state and federal judges are on the cutting edge of legal issues and developments. Through the Jurist in Residence program and other College of Law initiatives, we are excited to partner with them to prepare the next generation of leading legal minds.”
During his time at the College, Judge Kirsch taught a seminar-style short course on public corruption and participated in several student-focused events. Over 90 students attended a Fireside Chat with Judge Kirsch, co-sponsored by the Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism and moderated by the Center’s Director, Professor Tony Ghiotto, along with Dean Miarecki.
3L Bobby Mannis was grateful for the opportunity to take Judge Kirsch’s course.
“Judge Kirsch sharing his perspective as a Seventh Circuit jurist and former U.S. Attorney deepened my desire to pursue white-collar prosecution,” he said. “This class, where Judge Kirsch knew each of our names, taught about statutes and their interpretation, and shared his experiences, is a defining moment in my law school career.”
Student organizations were also eager to make connections with Judge Kirsch, and a Federalist Society-sponsored talk on how to have a meaningful career in public service gave them the opportunity to do just that.
Sophia Downes, 2L and president of the student chapter of the Federalist Society, helped coordinate that event.
“Judge Kirsch shared his experience working at the Department of Justice as the United States Attorney and on the bench, providing valuable advice to students interested in becoming federal prosecutors and judges. He also discussed his transition from the private to public sector and qualities judges and government employers look for when hiring candidates.”
The visit also featured a luncheon for College of Law faculty and local judges from the state and federal benches. Judge Kirsch and Andy Leipold, a professor of law at the College and a leading criminal law scholar, led a wide-ranging discussion.
Dean Jamelle Sharpe said, “Providing opportunities for our students to learn directly from judges is imperative for them to better understand the judicial system. It also encourages them to consider careers in the judiciary. I am grateful to Judge Kirsch for so generously giving of his time to make our inaugural session of the program a success. I look forward to hosting him at the College again in the near future, and to hosting other jurists for many years to come.”
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Thomas L. Kirsch II is a Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Prior to his judicial appointment in 2020, he served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana since 2017. From 2008 until 2017, Judge Kirsch was a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, litigating commercial and criminal matters in trial and appellate courts across the United States and conducting corporate internal investigations. Before joining Winston & Strawn, Judge Kirsch served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Indiana from 2001 to 2008, focusing on white collar investigations and prosecutions, including the prosecution of numerous elected and appointed public officials. In 2006 and 2007, Judge Kirsch served as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General at the United States Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy in Washington, D.C. He is a former law clerk to the Honorable John D. Tinder in the Southern District of Indiana. Judge Kirsch is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
