[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
                 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2019

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 200th 
anniversary of the United States District Court for the Northern 
District of Illinois. It is an honor to recognize a court with such a 
rich and impactful history at the heart of the American judiciary 
system.
  The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois traces 
its roots back to Illinois' establishment. Nathaniel Pope, serving as 
the Territory of Illinois' Secretary from inception in 1809, became its 
Delegate to Congress in 1816. There, he worked tirelessly on part of 
the territory's eventual admission to the Union as the state of 
Illinois in 1818. As such, it was only a natural progression for him to 
be nominated and confirmed as the first Judge of its new District, 
bringing with him strong anti-slavery views.
  Eventually, the United States District Court for the District of 
Illinois was subdivided into the Northern and Southern District Courts 
in 1855. The Northern District led by its first judge, Judge Thomas 
Drummond, continued the tradition of protecting the rights of all 
people. One such example, was through the sentencing of the 
abolitionist John Hossack, who had violated the Fugitive Slave Act by 
abetting a runaway slave. Judge Drummond, conflicted between his duty 
to the rule of law and his abolitionist conscience, recognized Hossack 
was guilty of breaking the law, but chose to hand down a minimal 
sentence for the transaction. Even as the Civil War raged on, Judge 
Drummond balanced his sense of duty and patriotism, actively supporting 
the Union and President Lincoln while still defending the Chicago 
Times' right to freedom of speech and criticism.
  Today the court exists as the Northern District of Illinois and is 
led by Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. It has grown considerably during its 
200 years and now contains 22 judicial posts, ensuring further public 
and juris prudential access to its resources and rulings. I am grateful 
to the District Court and its people, for laws are useless without 
justice.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the United 
States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on the 
200th anniversary of the courts establishment. Through its celebration, 
we pay tribute not only to our institutions and the rule of law, but to 
our long-standing history of justice.

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