Tribute to Seventh Circuit Judge Illana Rovner | The Keleher Appellate Law Group, LLC

Last week, Seventh Circuit Judge Illana Rovner took senior status. She had been an associate judge on the Seventh Circuit since 1992. Prior to that, she was a district court judge on the Northern District of Illinois for almost a decade. A member of what could be described as the Court’s “old guard,” Judge Rovner was a consistent source of levity for the bench and bar alike. I have had the honor (and luck) of arguing many times before Judge Rovner. Every time I argued, she was gracious, unassuming, and courteous. And every time, she asked the question that decisively struck at the heart of my case. Judge Rovner has become an institution at the Seventh Circuit, and her wit, compassion, and keen legal mind will be missed.

About the Author

Christopher Keleher clerked for the Hon. William J. Bauer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. This unique opportunity provided Mr. Keleher with an invaluable understanding of the inner workings of an appellate court. He saw what persuades judges and what does not, and utilizes this knowledge every time he writes an appellate brief. The Keleher Appellate Law Group handles all phases of appellate litigation in federal and state courts across the country. Read more here.