District Judge John Robert Blakey was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois by President Barack Obama in 2014.
Before his federal appointment, Judge Blakey served as Chief of Special Prosecutions Bureau in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office from 2009 to 2014. He previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 2004 to 2009, and in the Southern District of Florida from 2000 to 2004. He also served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County from 1996 to 2000 and clerked for Judge William J. Zloch in the Southern District of Florida from 1992 to 1994. He also serves as a Judge for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (2025–present).
Education
- Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1992
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, C.F.A., 1989
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1988
Career
- Judge, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (2025–present)
- Chief, Special Prosecutions Bureau, Cook County State's Attorney's Office (2009–2014)
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (2004–2009)
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida (2000–2004)
- Assistant State's Attorney, Cook County (1996–2000)
- Private practice, Chicago (1995–1996)
- Law Clerk, Hon. William J. Zloch, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (1992–1994)