Obama nominates prosecutor for judgeship

President Barack Obama has nominated a prosecuting attorney to sit on the federal bench in the Northern District of Illinois. Manish Shah’s nomination was one of eight announced Thursday by Obama. The 40-year-old Shah has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago since 2001.

Shah helped prosecute several cases arising out of Chicago’s scandal-plagued Hired Truck Program. He currently works as chief of the criminal division and is responsible for supervising prosecutions handled by 130 assistant U.S. attorneys.

Both Illinois senators back Shah’s nomination. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, says Shah will bring a wealth of knowledge to the federal bench. Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, calls Shah the most experienced prosecutor the state has.

The U.S. Senate must vote to confirm the nomination.