U.S. Department
of Justice
Meet the Acting U.S. Attorney
John E. Childress was appointed as the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana on January 19th, 2025. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Childress previously served as both First Assistant United States Attorney and Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana and the Central District of Illinois.
As the Acting United States Attorney, Mr. Childress leads an office of 76 Assistant United States Attorneys and support professionals who litigate matters involving federal criminal offenses and complex civil claims on behalf of the United States.
During his career with the Department of Justice, Mr. Childress has served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and the Criminal Chief’s Working Group. He also served as Criminal Chief for the Central District of Illinois and as its representative on the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
From June 2004 to July 2005, Mr. Childress was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the United States Army. As a result of his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Combat Action Badge.
Mr. Childress earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and his Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard Mills, United States District Judge, in the Central District of Illinois from 1990 to 1992. From 2007 to 2013, Mr. Childress served as an Associate Circuit Judge in Sangamon County, Illinois.