John R. Lausch, Jr. Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO — John R. Lausch, Jr., who served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago for more than a decade before entering private law practice, returned to government service today as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo today administered the oath of office after President Donald J. Trump signed U.S. Attorney Lausch’s commission.  A public investiture ceremony will be held at a later date.

“I am excited to return to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today,” said U.S. Attorney Lausch.  “I am humbled and honored to lead such a tremendous team of attorneys and staff.  I look forward to working with our law enforcement partners and continuing the office’s longstanding history of pursuing justice on behalf of the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois.”

Joel R. Levin, who for the past eight months served as Acting United States Attorney, will return to his role as the First Assistant United States Attorney.

As an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1999-2010, U.S. Attorney Lausch tried more than twenty jury cases involving racketeering, fraud, narcotics, extortion, firearms and other offenses.  From 2005-2010, U.S. Attorney Lausch served as Deputy Chief in the Narcotics & Gangs Section, overseeing criminal prosecutions of drug trafficking organizations and street gangs.  U.S. Attorney Lausch also served as the office's Violent Crime Coordinator, leading the District’s Anti-Gang and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs.  He was twice awarded a Department of Justice Director's Award for Superior Performance. 

From 2010 until his appointment as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Lausch worked in private law practice in Chicago.

U.S. Attorney Lausch earned his law degree in 1996 from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies (Government Concentration) in 1992 from Harvard University.