Chambers Lunch with Judge Kness | Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites its members to a private lunch with Hon. John F. Kness on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This in-person gathering will take place in Judge Kness’s Jury Room on the 21st Floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, located at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

Open exclusively to FBA member attorneys, this event is limited to just 12 participants and offers a rare opportunity to engage with Judge Kness in a small, informal setting. Attendance is complimentary; a $25 fee will be collected to cover lunch from Inspiration Kitchen.

Please note: Attorneys who have active matters before Judge Kness. are not eligible to attend. Register soon, as spots are limited and will fill quickly.

Judge John F. Kness has served on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois since his confirmation in 2020. Before his appointment to the federal bench, Judge Kness was General Counsel of the College of DuPage, where he managed all legal affairs for Illinois’ second-largest institution of higher education.

A graduate of Northwestern University and the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law (cum laude), Judge Kness brings a diverse background to the judiciary. He began his professional career in law enforcement as a patrol officer for the Oak Park Police Department. After law school, he clerked for Judge William H. Pryor Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Judge Kness’s legal experience includes both private practice and extensive work as a federal prosecutor. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 2009 to 2016, he handled cases across the National Security and Cybercrimes, Narcotics, and General Crimes Sections. He has tried multiple federal criminal cases, including seven jury trials.

He was nominated by President Donald J. Trump in 2019 and confirmed by the Senate in early 2020. Judge Kness maintains a long-standing interest in legal scholarship and has been a member of the Federalist Society at various times since 2004.