On November 25th, in a formal investiture ceremony, former HSPRD partner Mary M. Rowland was sworn-in as an Article lll Federal Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Matthew Piers, president of HSPRD, made the motion to Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer for administration of oath of office to Judge Rowland.
Judge Rowland has served as a United States Magistrate Judge since 2012, before that she was a partner at HSPRD for 12 years, where she handled primarily complex civil rights matters. She is the first openly LGBTQ federal judge to serve in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The speakers at the ceremony praised Judge Rowland’s outstanding contributions both at the bar and on the bench.
