Mark Kirk Makes Recommendation for Northern District Judge

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says he’s recommending that attorney John Blakey be named a judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

The 48-year-old Blakey is currently chief of the special prosecutions bureau at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He’s also a special assistant U.S. attorney.

Kirk announced his recommendation at a Friday news conference.

Blakey now supervises more than 80 prosecutors and oversees hundreds of cases a year. He also supervises the Regional Organized Crime Task Force and the Racketeering Strategy Center and serves as co-leader of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force.

Kirk noted that Blakey also lectures nationwide for the Department of Justice and Offices of Attorneys General regarding racketeering and sex trafficking investigation and prosecution strategies.