John Phil Gilbert

Who is John Phil Gilbert?

John Phil Gilbert is a senior United States federal judge.

Born in Carbondale, Illinois, Judge Gilbert received a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1971 and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1974. Gilbert practiced privately in Carbondale from 1974 to 1988, also serving as a special assistant attorney general of Public Aid Enforcement Division from 1974 to 1975, as an assistant city attorney of the City of Carbondale from 1975 to 1978, and as a member of the Illinois State Board of Elections from 1978 to 1988, serving as Chairperson from 1981 to 1983 and as Vice-Chairperson from 1983 to 1985. Gilbert was a circuit judge, First Judicial Circuit of Illinois, from 1988 to 1992.

On July 2, 1992, Gilbert was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois vacated by James L. Foreman. Gilbert was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 23, 1992, and was commissioned on September 24, 1992. He served as Chief Judge from 1993 to 2000. He assumed senior status on March 15, 2014.