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    Alumni Spotlight: Judge Jeremy C. Daniel, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

    Alvaro Cure Dominguez

    Feb 06, 2025

    3 min read

    Advancing the Profession Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Judicial Intern Opportunity Program
    Alumni Spotlight: Judge Jeremy C. Daniel, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    urbazon via Getty Images

    Can you tell us a little more about your background and yourself prior to attending law school?

    I was born and raised in Chicago. In high school, I was active in various sports and activities. Upon graduation, I enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University to study Chemistry, from where I graduated in 2000. While in college, I enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. Upon graduation, I accepted a commission as an officer in the Marine Corps and served as a Combat Engineer Officer.

    What motivated you to attend law school?

    When I joined the Marine Corps, I had the opportunity to visit many parts of the world because I was frequently being deployed overseas. However, these deployments were inconsistent with the family life I envisioned for myself. As plans for a family materialized, I began to consider alternate career paths better aligned with my personal goals and eventually decided to attend law school over other professional schools.

    Can you tell us about your experience with JIOP, for example who you interned with and how this experience impacted your career?

    As part of JIOP, I interned with Judge Filip of the Northern District of Illinois.

    Judge Filip was a former Assistant United States Attorney who spoke highly of his time as a federal prosecutor. Judge Filip’s comments and experience made me consider the possibility of working as a federal prosecutor.

    What skills do you believe best prepare or help law students for work in the judiciary, either as externs or clerks?

    In my opinion, one important trait or skill—if it can be considered a skill—is judgment. For example, to arrive at the correct result, it is often necessary to distill issues down to their basic elements. That requires judgment. Perspective is also important, as good judgment often requires perspective. Lastly, being a good researcher and writer is critical, as these are threshold skills any lawyer should have.

    Judge Jeremy C. Daniel

    Judge Jeremy C. Daniel

    Where there any skills you learned in military service that you believe helped you as an attorney or prosecutor?

    Yes, the ability to endure—that is, to stay a course despite adversity—and perspective.

    For context, I was a better student in law school than in undergraduate school. In law school, unlike in undergraduate school, I would allot blocks of time to “just study” free of distractions and excuses. This ability to focus on a specific task is something I developed while in the Marine Corps. As a friend used to say back in service, “If you can’t get out of it, then get into it.” Law school was something I signed up for, so I got into it.

    What would you say are the highlights of being a federal judge?

    As a judge, you no longer have to worry about taking certain positions to advance a client’s position. Instead, the focus is simply following the facts and the law to achieve the “right” result. As a judge, I have also discovered I am part of a deep, collegial bench where more experienced judges are happy to share their knowledge with the new guy. The same is true for the court family, which includes court staff and law clerks; everyone in the courthouse is willing and able to help out.  

    What recommendations would you give to JIOP scholars interested in following your footsteps and becoming federal prosecutors or judges?

    I have two recommendations, not just to JIOP Scholars but to any attorney interested in becoming a judge: limit your footprint on social media and always “do the right thing.”

    Many attorneys use social media platforms to share personal information without recognizing the life span of information submitted online. One certainty of the internet is that it never goes away, and anything posted could be scrutinized years later when being considered for a position in the judiciary. My second recommendation is to be civil in your interactions with others and always “do the right thing.” Doing the right thing can include extending professional courtesies to opposing counsel, being candid and transparent, and taking reasonable positions when interacting with others.

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