Lefkow, Joan Humphrey Born 1944 in Rural Nemaha County, KS Federal Judicial Service: Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Nominated by William J. Clinton on May 11, 2000, to a seat vacated by Ann C. Williams. Confirmed by the Senate on June 30, 2000, and received commission on July 11, 2000. Assumed senior status on September 1, 2012. U.S. Magistrate, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1982-1997 U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of Illinois, 1997-2000 Education: Wheaton College, Illinois, A.B., 1965 Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1971 Professional Career: Law clerk, Hon. Thomas E. Fairchild, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1971-1972 Staff attorney, Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, Inc., 1972-1975 Administrative law judge, Illinois Fair Employment Practices Commission, 1975-1979 Instructor, University of Miami Law School, 1980-1981 Executive director, Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., 1981-1982