Press Release - President Obama Names Two to United States District Court

WASHINGTON – Today, President Obama nominated Max O. Cogburn, Jr. and Judge James E. Shadid to seats on the United States District Court.

"I am proud to nominate these outstanding individuals to serve on the District Court bench," said President Obama. "I am confident they will serve the people of North Carolina and Illinois with distinction."

Max O. Cogburn, Jr.: Nominee for United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina
Max O. Cogburn, Jr., is a partner in the Asheville law firm of Cogburn & Brazil, P.A. Mr. Cogburn has had an extensive civil litigation practice and also has represented clients in both state and federal criminal prosecutions as a private practitioner since 2004, and previously from 1976 to 1980 and from 1992 to 1995. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Cogburn served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of North Carolina. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 1980 to 1992. He served at various times as Chief Assistant United States Attorney and as Lead Attorney for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Mr. Cogburn received his J.D. in 1976 from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law and his B.A. in 1973 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Judge James E. Shadid: Nominee for United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
Judge James E. Shadid serves as circuit judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, a position he has held since 2001. He sits in Peoria where, since 2004, he also has taught at Bradley University as an adjunct professor. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Shadid was in private practice in Peoria from 1983 to 2001, primarily as a sole practitioner. He also served part-time as a public defender in Peoria County from 1986 to 2001 and as a Commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims from 1996 to 2001. Judge Shadid received his J.D. in 1983 from The John Marshall Law School and his B.S. in 1979 from Bradley University.