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Tharp, John Joseph, Jr.
Born 1960 in Camp Lejeune, NC
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Nominated by Barack Obama on November 10, 2011, to a seat vacated by Blanche M. Manning. Confirmed by the Senate on May 14, 2012, and commission issued on May 16, 2012. Assumed senior status on September 30, 2026.
Other Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, 2018-2025
Education:
Duke University, B.A., 1982
Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law), J.D., 1990
Professional Career:
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Nominated by Barack Obama on November 10, 2011, to a seat vacated by Blanche M. Manning. Confirmed by the Senate on May 14, 2012, and commission issued on May 16, 2012. Assumed senior status on September 30, 2026.
Other Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, 2018-2025
Education:
Duke University, B.A., 1982
Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law), J.D., 1990
Professional Career:
U.S. Naval Reserve, 1978-1980
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1980-1982, 1987-1988
U.S. Marine Corps, 1982-1987; second lieutenant, 1982-1984; first lieutenant, 1984-1987; captain, 1987
Law clerk, Hon. Joel M. Flaum, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1990-1991
Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1991-1992, 1997-2012
Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1992-1997
Nominated to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, July 31, 2008; no Senate vote