Joel Martin Flaum

Who is Joel Martin Flaum?

Joel Martin Flaum is a United States federal judge.

Born in Hudson, New York, Flaum received a B.A. from Union College in 1958, a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1963, and an LL.M. from Northwestern University School of Law in 1964. He was a U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant Commander, JAG Corps from 1981 to 1992.

Flaum was in private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1964 to 1965. He then transitioned into public service as an Assistant State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois, from 1965 to 1969. He served as a Lecturer, Northwestern University School of Law from 1967 to 1969, and he helped found the Police Legal Advisory Program at Northwestern. Flaum was an Assistant Attorney General of Illinois from 1969 to 1970, and he became First Assistant Attorney General of Illinois from 1970 to 1972. He was First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1972 to 1975.

On November 18, 1974, at the age of 38, Flaum was nominated by President Gerald Ford to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated by Philip W. Tone.