George W. Lindberg

George Wakem Lindberg (June 21, 1932 – March 19, 2019) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Early life

Born in Crystal Lake, Illinois, Lindberg received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1954 and his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law in 1957.

Legal and political career

Lindberg was the vice president and legal counsel for John E. Reid and Associates in Chicago from 1955 to 1968, becoming an expert in financial fraud investigations. In 1966, Lindberg was elected to the first of three terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving until 1972. During his tenure in the General Assembly, Lindberg was a private practice attorney in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake in McHenry County from 1968 until 1973. While in the state legislature, he was the architect of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. He served on the appellate court until his appointment to the Federal Bench in 1989. He remained on senior status until his death on March 19, 2019.

Notable clerks Kathleen Zellner, noted for exonerating convicted prisoners, clerked for the judge.