October 27, 2021

Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Nomination of Gregory Harris to Be Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney

Once confirmed, Harris will be the first Black U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the White House’s nomination of Gregory Harris to be U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. 

“With more than 25 years of experience working in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District, Greg Harris will be ready to hit the ground running on day one.  He is exceptionally well-qualified and we expect him to be a diligent, thoughtful, and principled U.S. Attorney.  We look forward to ensuring a fair and swift confirmation process in the Senate.”

Earlier this year, Duckworth and Durbin established three screening committees to review candidates for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal positions in Illinois.  Their screening committees are comprised of distinguished members of Illinois’ legal community, including former judges, prosecutors, defenders, litigators, academics, legal aid attorneys, and law enforcement leaders. 

The committees carefully evaluated candidates by reviewing their professional records and application questionnaires, contacting references, and conducting interviews, and submitted their findings and recommendations to the Senators.  Duckworth and Durbin interviewed the finalists, reviewed their records, and consulted with each other regarding their qualifications. 

Now that President Biden has submitted this nomination to the U.S. Senate, it will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Durbin is the Chair, and the nominee will ultimately receive a vote in the Committee. If the nomination is approved by the Judiciary Committee, the nominee will receive a vote by the full Senate.

White House biography of Gregory K. Harris, U.S. Attorney nominee for the Central District of Illinois

Gregory K. Harris is an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, where he has served since 2001. He has held various leadership positions in the office, including Chief of the Criminal Division. From 1988 to 2001, Mr. Harris was a partner at the law firm Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. in Illinois. Mr. Harris served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois from 1980 to 1988. From 1978 to 1980, Mr. Harris was Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. Mr. Harris served as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Illinois Office of State Appellate Defender from 1976 until 1978.

Mr. Harris received his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly known as The John Marshall Law School) in 1976 and his B.A. from Howard University in 1971.