Michael M. Mihm
Encyclopedia
Michael Martin Mihm is an incumbent United States federal judge
on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
, with chambers in Peoria, Illinois
. He became a judge in 1982 by way of nomination by President Ronald Reagan
. In 2004, he received the USAID
Outstanding Citizen Achievement Citation for his work with the Russian judicial system.
Judge Mihm has said he will take senior status in 2010. President Obama has nominated Peoria County Circuit Judge James Shadid to take his place pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and then the full Senate.
from Loras College
in 1964 and received a J.D.
from Saint Louis University School of Law
in 1967.
Mihm was an assistant prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri
from 1967 to 1968; assistant state's attorney for Peoria County, Illinois
from 1968 to 1969; and assistant corporation counsel for the City of Peoria
from 1969 to 1972. He was State's Attorney
of Peoria County from 1972 to 1980, then in private law practice in Peoria from 1980 until becoming a federal judge in 1982.
on July 27, 1982, to the seat vacated by Robert D. Morgan in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on August 5, 1982, and received his commission on August 6, 1982. Mihm served as the district's chief judge
from 1991 to 1998.
Judge Mihm is the judge currently presiding over the Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
case. Ali al-Marri was originally arrested in Peoria in December 2001 for credit card fraud (he should have been taking classes at Bradley University), then classified as an enemy combatant and held in isolation for more than six years before going before a Charleston court and being transferred here in a model for future similar cases. Mihm wants to try al-Marri by June, but realistically he said before the end of 2009 was more likely.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties from its four courthouses...
, with chambers in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. He became a judge in 1982 by way of nomination by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. In 2004, he received the USAID
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
Outstanding Citizen Achievement Citation for his work with the Russian judicial system.
Judge Mihm has said he will take senior status in 2010. President Obama has nominated Peoria County Circuit Judge James Shadid to take his place pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and then the full Senate.
Prior to the bench
Mihm grew up on a farm, and his mother was a school teacher. He graduated with a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
in 1964 and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law , also known as SLU LAW, is a private American law school located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of the professional graduate schools of Saint Louis University. Opened in 1843, it is the first law school west of the Mississippi River. The school has been ABA...
in 1967.
Mihm was an assistant prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
from 1967 to 1968; assistant state's attorney for Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....
from 1968 to 1969; and assistant corporation counsel for the City of Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
from 1969 to 1972. He was State's Attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
of Peoria County from 1972 to 1980, then in private law practice in Peoria from 1980 until becoming a federal judge in 1982.
Judicial career
Mihm was nominated by President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on July 27, 1982, to the seat vacated by Robert D. Morgan in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties from its four courthouses...
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on August 5, 1982, and received his commission on August 6, 1982. Mihm served as the district's chief judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 1991 to 1998.
Judge Mihm is the judge currently presiding over the Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri
Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a citizen of Qatar who was arrested on charges of being a sleeper al Qaeda agent while studying at Bradley University in the United States. After denying any wrongdoing since his arrest, al-Marri pled guilty in a plea agreement to the federal charges on April 30, 2009...
case. Ali al-Marri was originally arrested in Peoria in December 2001 for credit card fraud (he should have been taking classes at Bradley University), then classified as an enemy combatant and held in isolation for more than six years before going before a Charleston court and being transferred here in a model for future similar cases. Mihm wants to try al-Marri by June, but realistically he said before the end of 2009 was more likely.