Central District of Illinois / Appointed 2023 / Active
Colleen Rae Lawless
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden in 2023 and confirmed by the Senate 51–41, Colleen Rae Lawless is a Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. She earned a law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2009. Sources: FJC Biographical Directory · Senate confirmation, March 2, 2023
- Appointed by
- Joseph R. Biden, 2023
- Confirmed
- 51–41
- Education
- Illinois Wesleyan 2005 · Northern Illinois College of Law 2009
- Succeeded
- Sue Ellen Myerscough
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Central District of Illinois · succeeded Sue Ellen Myerscough | Biden (D) | 51–41 |
A per-senator roll-call isn’t shown for this confirmation. The Senate’s recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989; many confirmations (especially before then, and most to the lower courts) were by voice vote or unanimous consent.
Education
| Illinois Wesleyan University | B.A. | 2005 |
| Northern Illinois University College of Law | J.D. | 2009 |
Sources
3 years on the Central District of Illinois. Data last verified 2026-06-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).