Charles Norgle
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Charles Norgle is a Federal Disrict (Article III) Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois one of the most busiest federal courts in the nation.
Background
Judge Norgle is a native Chicagoland citizen who graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 1964 with his Bachelor's Degree and his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1969[1].
Legal career
Norgle has enjoyed a long and distinguished legal career in the suburban Chicagoland area of Dupage County first as Assistant state's attorney from 1969 to 1971 then as a Deputy public defender for indigent people from 1971 to 1973. Norgle started his judicial career in Dupage County in 1973 serving as an associate judge for four years until 1977 he became a Circuit Court judge for one year until 1978. Norgle was an Associate Judge again for three years until 1981 before he became a circuit judge again until 1984 when he was apponted by President Reagan to the Federal Bench [2].
Federal judicial career
Norgle was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 10, 1984, to a new seat created by 98 Stat. 333 under Congressional Approval. Norgle was confirmed by the Senate on October 3, 1984, and received commission on October 4, 1984[3].
Slavery reparations lawsuit
In 2004, Norgle tossed out a civil suit brought by the descendants of slaves against a handful of tobacco, railroad and insurance companies they said benefited from slave labor. In a written judgement, Norgle said the plaintiffs failed to make any direct connection between their enslaved ancestors and the companies cited in the suit.
"Plaintiffs wish to litigate the issue of slavery without establishing that they have suffered some concrete and particularized injury as a result of the putatively illegal conduct of the defendants," Norgle wrote.
Norgle also stated it was not sufficient to simply allege "some genealogical relationship to African-Americans held in slavery over 100, 200, or 300 years ago."
Norgle ruled that the complaints had exceeded the statute of limitations, and that the issue of reparations posed by the suit would be better handled by US lawmakers[4].
Planned Parenthood Lawsuit
Norgle ruled in 2007 a multi-million dollar abortion facility built by Planned Parenthood in the Chicago suburb of Aurora cannot open the next day as abortionists had demanded.
The issue involves the deception Planned Parenthood engaged in with the city during the construction of the building, which was outed as an abortion plant only when a pro-life construction worker began questioning the multiple surgical rooms in combination with bulletproof glass windows.
Norgle during an emergency hearing rejected Planned Parenthood's demand that the city be ordered to issue a certificate of occupancy so it could legally launch its abortion business in Aurora immediately.
Pro life activists rejoiced the ruling praising Norgle by: "For years, Planned Parenthood has run roughshod over the rights of ordinary citizens," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League. "It is heartening that a federal judge in Illinois has refused to be pressured by Planned Parenthood." "Planned Parenthood used underhanded tactics to build its abortion facility in Aurora," Sedlak further stated, "and now it wants all of its shenanigans to be ignored. Planned Parenthood is demanding that a certificate of occupancy to be issued, as if the organization had been forthcoming from the beginning. That is ludicrous."
The American Life Leauge said pro-life activists "have uncovered what appear to be clear irregularities in the permitting process and have asked the Aurora city council to look into the situation before issuing an occupancy permit. The council agreed and engaged an outside attorney to review the process."[5].
Judicial Style
Norgle is known to be a strict constructionist and have a no-nonsense demanor. This was noted in a case in 2008 Norgle made his trademark demeanor known when he ordered the president of Lawson Products of Des Plaines to appear personally before him to take responsibility for the company's years-long bribery and kickback scheme disguised as an "incentives" program. The Daily Herald of the North Chicago suburbs stated in an article: "Sorry, Thomas Neri, you can't phone in a $30 million quasi-plea deal." During the proceedings, Norgle asked "Why is Mr. Neri not here?" demanded the no-nonsense Norgle, a federal judge known for his often-stern demeanor. An attorney for the company responded that they were under the impression the CEO didn't need to be present for a August 20, 2008 court appearance, which was to be both an arraignment on the single fraud charge and a request for approval from the judge for the deferred prosecution agreement, which has already been signed by Neri. "I want a corporate officer here ... so that it is clear what his obligations are," said Norgle. "He shall appear here next week (Aug. 27) at 10 o'clock." An attorney for Lawson said the entire event was just a big misunderstanding.
According to prosecutors, Lawson sales agents would bribe both public sector and private purchasing employees to order their cleaning products and equipment in exchange for certificates that could be redeemed for cash in $50 increments or less. Often taxpayers were saddled with more expensive products as a result of the bribes, which ran into the thousands for some purchasing employees. Lawson technically did not plead guilty to any charges, but in a deferred prosecution agreement, it admitted to fraudulent conduct and agreed to pay $30 million in penalties and restitution over the next three years. In return, federal prosecutors will drop a single charge of mail fraud against the company at the end of the three-year period.[6].
Notes
- ↑ http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=1780
- ↑ http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=1780
- ↑ http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=1780
- ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200401/ai_kepm361032
- ↑ http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57691
- ↑ http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=229112&src=1
