Northwestern Law Judges' Panel Offers Inside Look at Appellate Practice
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosted a Northwestern Law Judges' Panel. Titled How to Reason Like an Appellate Judge, this program brought together three judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit for a candid conversation on appellate practice. The CLE program took place in Lincoln Hall at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago.
Capped at just 60 seats, this program was exclusive to Federal Bar Association members. Consistent with the Seventh Circuit's standard practice, the identities of the three judges were not released until the morning of the event. The court was conducting its regular session at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law that day and met with students that afternoon before the 4:00 PM panel. Following the CLE program, attendees were invited to a reception in the Atrium.
Northwestern Law Judges' Panel Features Three Seventh Circuit Judges
The panel featured Hon. Amy J. St. Eve, Hon. Michael Y. Scudder Jr., and Hon. Joshua P. Kolar. All three judges serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Judge St. Eve has served on the Seventh Circuit since May 2018, following a nomination by President Donald Trump. Previously, she served as a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois from 2002 to 2018, appointed by President George W. Bush. Before joining the bench, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and held a position at the Whitewater Independent Counsel's Office. She earned her B.A. and J.D. from Cornell University, graduating first in her law school class in 1990.
Judge Scudder joined the Seventh Circuit in May 2018, also nominated by President Trump. His career includes service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, associate counsel to President George W. Bush, and general counsel of the National Security Council. A Northwestern Law alumnus, he earned his J.D. magna cum laude in 1998 and has taught at both Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the University of Chicago Law School. Before joining the bench, he was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Chicago.
Judge Kolar has served on the Seventh Circuit since January 2024, confirmed by the Senate following a nomination by President Joe Biden. He previously served as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Northern District of Indiana from 2019 to 2024 and spent over a decade as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Indiana. He earned both his undergraduate degree and J.D. from Northwestern University. Judge Kolar also serves as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve and completed a tour of active duty in Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015.
Moderators Guide the Conversation on Oral Argument and Appellate Strategy
Hon. Sunil R. Harjani, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, and Molly Welsh, President of Northwestern University's FBA Student Chapter, served as moderators for the program. The panel addressed substantive and procedural appellate practice, along with practical advice on preparing for and presenting oral argument before the Seventh Circuit.
Judge Harjani was nominated by President Biden and confirmed in early 2024. He previously served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Illinois from 2019 to 2024. Before joining the bench, he spent a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Section in Chicago. He holds a B.A. and J.D. from Northwestern University and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern Law School, teaching White Collar Criminal Practice, Federal Civil Discovery, and Depositions.
Molly Welsh is a J.D. Candidate at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and serves as President of the school's FBA Student Chapter. Her legal background includes a summer associateship at Kirkland & Ellis and an externship with the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Welsh earned her B.A. in Political Science, Spanish, and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The program format gave members direct access to three sitting appellate judges in a setting limited to 60 seats, a rare opportunity for practitioners with Seventh Circuit matters or those preparing for federal appellate work.
Northwestern Law Judges' Panel Reflects the FBA Chicago Chapter's Commitment to Member Education
The April 8th event underscored the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter's ongoing commitment to connecting members with the federal judiciary. The Northwestern Law Judges' Panel offered attendees a meaningful opportunity to hear firsthand from three active Seventh Circuit judges on how appellate courts approach oral argument and the written record. For practitioners who appear before the Seventh Circuit, or who aspire to do so, the program delivered practical, court-specific insight that is rarely available in a traditional CLE format.
In addition, the reception that followed in the Atrium gave attendees additional time to connect with the judges and fellow FBA members in a more informal setting. The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter continues to expand its programming calendar and its role as a connector between the bench and the bar in the Northern District of Illinois and beyond. Events of this nature reinforce the chapter's position as an essential resource for federal practitioners at every stage of their careers.
The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosts consistent programming to keep the legal community involved. To stay connected with exclusive programming like the Northwestern Law Judges' Panel, visit the FBA Chicago Chapter's events page for a full list of upcoming programs.
