In Memoriam: The Honorable James H. Alesia '60

The Chicago-Kent community was saddened to learn of the recent death of U.S. District Judge James H. Alesia, who graduated from our law school in 1960. Appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, Judge Alesia served the Northern District of Illinois with distinction for 16 years, assuming senior status in 1998.

A native of Chicago's West Side, Judge Alesia began his career as a Chicago police officer, attending Chicago-Kent at night. Following law school, he worked for the Chicago & North Western Transportation Company and for the U.S. attorney's office and, later, as an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration and for the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission. In 1982, five years before his appointment to the federal bench, he joined the Chicago law firm of Reuben & Proctor, where his clients included the Tribune Company.

Chicago-Kent salutes Judge Alesia's legacy of service to the Chicago legal community and to the federal bench. We extend our condolences to Judge Alesia's wife, Kathryn, and to his sons Brian and Daniel.