About
Judge and novelist most distinguished for becoming a United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He also served a 7-year term on the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court until 2015, a year before he took senior status. He presided over numerous high-profile trials throughout his career, including those of Chicago Mafia boss James Marcello and former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.
Before Fame
He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1962. He later went on to receive his Juris Doctor, or Doctor of Law degree, from Harvard University's Law School in 1965. He launched his career as an assistant state's attorney in Cook County, IL, and later as an assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois. Before his judicial appointment, he held numerous positions for the state of Illinois, including director of the Illinois State Police.
Trivia
He authored the 2002 fictional thriller novel, "Money to Burn." He also appeared under the stage name of J.S. Block in 2 major motion pictures, including the 1991 film Homicide, which was written and directed by playwright David Mamet.
Family Life
He was the son of Samuel and Ethel Zagel. He divorced his 1st wife, investigative reporter Pam Zekman, in 1975. He married his 2nd wife, Margaret Maxwell, in 1979, and they remained together until his passing in 2023.
Associated With
He was nominated to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by former President Ronald Reagan in 1987.
