Judge Mary M. Rowland: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Mary M. Rowland is a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She was nominated to the bench by President Donald Trump on May 21, 2019, filling the vacancy created by the Hon. Amy Joan St. Eve. The United States Senate confirmed her appointment on July 31, 2019.

Prior to her nomination, Rowland presided as a magistrate for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois since 2012. Before joining the bench, she spent twelve years in private practice as a partner at Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick & Dym in Chicago (2000 to 2012), where her practice focused on civil rights matters.

Rowland earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1984. She then completed a J.D. at the University of Chicago Law School in 1988.

Rowland began her legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Julian Abele Cook, Jr. with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (1988 to 1990) before joining the Federal Defender Program in Chicago in 1990. She spent the next ten years working there as an assistant federal defender (1990 to 1995) and as chief appellate attorney (1995 to 2000). Rowland left the office to enter into private practice in 2000.

Her memberships include the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago.

Rowland was born in Akron, Ohio. She and her wife, Julie Justicz, have two children.