James Shadid

James Edward Shadid (born September 27, 1957) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Early life and education
Shadid was born in 1957 in Peoria, Illinois. His father was George Shadid, who eventually became sheriff of Peoria County, Illinois and an Illinois state senator. Shadid earned a Bachelor of Science from Bradley University in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, then known as the John Marshall Law School, in 1983.

Career
Shadid was in private practice from 1983 to 2001, additionally acting as part-time public defender in Peoria County from 1986 to 2001 and a commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims from 1996 to 2001. In December 2001, Shadid was appointed to the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He was primarily in felony court, with other work in misdemeanor and civil court.

Federal judicial service
On May 27, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Shadid to replace Michael Mihm on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. On March 7, 2011, he was confirmed by the Senate by an 89–0 vote. He received his commission on March 10, 2011. Shadid served as the chief judge of the Central District from March 12, 2012, to March 12, 2019; he was sworn in by his predecessor Judge Michael P. McCuskey.