New NDIL Magistrate Judges Introduced at May 2025 FBA Event

The new Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) magistrate judges were formally introduced to the legal community on May 13, 2025, during a panel hosted by the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter. Held at the Chicago Bar Association’s Corboy Hall, the event featured a moderated discussion with four recently appointed United States Magistrate Judges for the Northern District of Illinois. The program covered topics relevant to federal practitioners, including settlement conference advocacy, management of discovery disputes, and expectations in civil and criminal proceedings. Edward W. Feldman of Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman LLP moderated the discussion. Attendees received CLE credit, and the event included a Q&A session to facilitate direct engagement between the judiciary and practitioners.

The panel featured Magistrate Judges Jeannice W. Appenteng, Keri L. Holleb Hotaling, Daniel P. McLaughlin, and Laura K. McNally. Each judge brings significant trial and litigation experience to the bench and assumes a critical role in handling pretrial matters, evidentiary hearings, and consent proceedings in civil and misdemeanor cases. Their recent appointments reflect the evolving composition of the court and underscore the importance of continued dialogue between the bench and bar on procedural best practices.

Judge Jeannice Appenteng Appointed to NDIL Magistrate Bench

Hon. Jeannice W. Appenteng was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge on October 27, 2023. Before her appointment, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois for eight years, most recently in the Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section. Her work as a federal prosecutor included the investigation and trial of complex white-collar offenses, civil rights violations, and public corruption matters. She also handled appellate work and served as lead counsel in multiple proceedings.

In addition to her litigation background, Judge Appenteng held several leadership roles within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator and co-chair of the office’s Diversity Committee. She also served on the hiring committee. Her earlier legal experience includes clerkships for two federal district judges and practice at a private law firm. Before entering the legal profession, she served as the development director for a nonprofit organization, focusing on fundraising and media relations.

Judge Keri Holleb Hotaling Brings Civil Litigation Expertise to NDIL

Hon. Keri L. Holleb Hotaling assumed her position as a United States Magistrate Judge on August 10, 2023. She earned her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she served as an editor for the Virginia Environmental Law Journal, and her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College, graduating magna cum laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Judge Holleb Hotaling began her legal career at Jenner & Block LLP in Chicago, where she clerked for Judge Philip P. Simon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. She later returned to Jenner & Block, where she became a partner, handling complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts across the nation. She maintained a robust pro bono practice throughout her career.

Immediately prior to joining the bench, Judge Holleb Hotaling served as Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. She has held leadership roles in several civic organizations, including the YWCA Evanston/North Shore and the Chicago Foundation for Women, and is a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Judge Daniel McLaughlin Joins NDIL After Federal Defender Service

Hon. Daniel P. McLaughlin was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge on September 30, 2024. From 2008 until his appointment, he served as a staff attorney with the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois, where he represented indigent defendants in a wide range of federal criminal cases. He previously worked as an associate at Jenner & Block LLP and earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2004.

In 2018, Judge McLaughlin received the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter’s Award for Excellence in Public Service. His professional experience includes extensive work in pretrial litigation, motion practice, and trial strategy in federal criminal matters. He presides in Courtroom 1350 at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, following the elevation of Judge Sunil R. Harjani to the district court bench.

Judge Laura McNally Brings Pro Bono and Trial Focus to NDIL

Hon. Laura K. McNally joined the Northern District of Illinois magistrate bench on November 1, 2024. Prior to her appointment, she was a litigation partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where she handled complex commercial and federal criminal cases and chaired the firm’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee. She received the court’s Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Earlier in her career, Judge McNally was a partner at Grippo & Elden LLC and an associate at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. She clerked for Judge F. A. Little, Jr. in the Western District of Louisiana. She holds a J.D. from Tulane Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University. Judge McNally presides in Courtroom 2230 at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

FBA Chicago Highlights New NDIL Magistrate Judges at May Panel

The May 2025 panel offered federal practitioners insight into the professional backgrounds and courtroom perspectives of the new NDIL magistrate judges. Each judge brings a distinct combination of trial experience, public service, and subject-matter expertise to the bench. Topics covered during the event—including settlement advocacy, discovery oversight, and judicial expectations—provided practical value for attorneys engaged in federal litigation.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter continues to serve as a key resource for fostering dialogue between the judiciary and the legal community. Events such as this reinforce the Chapter’s ongoing commitment to providing relevant, practice-focused programming for attorneys practicing in the Northern District of Illinois. To stay up to date on the Chicago federal legal community, check out our roster of upcoming events and CLE opportunities.