Harry Leinenweber

Harry Leinenweber
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office June 3, 2002 – June 11, 2024
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
In office December 17, 1985 – June 3, 2002
Appointed by	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Seat est. by 98 Stat. 333
Succeeded by	Mark Filip
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 42nd district
In office January 1973 – January 1983 Serving with W. Robert Blair, George Sangmeister, LeRoy Van Duyne, Jack Davis
Preceded by	James R. Washburn Thomas R. Houde C. R. "Russ" Hamilton
Succeeded by	Suzanne Deuchler
Personal details
Born	Harry Daniel Leinenweber (1937-06-03)June 3, 1937 Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 11, 2024(2024-06-11) (aged 87) Chicago Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lynn M. Martin ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	5
Education	University of Notre Dame (BA) University of Chicago (JD)

Harry Daniel Leinenweber (June 3, 1937 – June 11, 2024) was an American jurist who served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Education and career

Leinenweber was born in Joliet, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1959 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1962. He was in private practice in Joliet from 1962 to 1986. He was a city attorney of Joliet from 1963 to 1967. He was a special prosecutor in Will County, Illinois from 1968 to 1970. He was a special counsel for the Village of Bolingbrook, Illinois, from 1975 to 1977. He was a special counsel for Will County Forest Preserve, Illinois in 1977. He was a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983.

Federal judicial service

Leinenweber was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on November 7, 1985, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 16, 1985, and received his commission on December 17, 1985. He assumed senior status on June 3, 2002.

In 2022, Leinenweber presided over R. Kelly's sexual abuse trial in Northern Illinois. At the time of his death, he had been presiding over the ComEd corruption trial involving Anne Pramaggiore, which he had placed on hold in early 2024.

Personal life

Leinenweber married Representative Lynn M. Martin in Washington, D.C., on January 7, 1987.

Death

Leinenweber died of lung cancer at his Gold Coast home, in Chicago, on June 11, 2024, at the age of 87.

Sources

• Harry Leinenweber at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.