PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2023

Kelly. They raised three children: Jim, Joe and Maggie. As with his father before him, Shadid worked hard at his job, but made sure to keep a focus on his family. In 2001, he was appointed to the bench of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties, then won two retention elections. His cases in cluded brutal crimes. Among multiple killers in his courtroom, the most noto rious was Larry Bright, who murdered eight women in a crime spree that shook the Peoria area. But not every docket turned dark. Shadid, who has a wry and understated sense of humor, always has appreciated light moments. One day, amid a crowded courtroom of endless pretrial hearings, Shadid was repeatedly interrupted by ran dom outbursts from Willie York, the flamboyant Peoria vagrant who over decades would commit a misdemeanor early every winter to earn a jail stint until the weather warmed. Exasperated, Shadid peered at York and barked, “Willie! If you don’t pipe down, I’m going to release you from jail!” At that, York turned silent. A PRESIDENT CALLS In 2010, when a judgeship opened in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Shadid was nominated for appointment by President Barack Obama. The next year, he won confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Shadid still struggles to find the words to describe the experience. “It was totally humbling,” he quietly said. A high point happened behind the scenes, when the president met in the Oval Office with Shadid, his wife, kids and parents. The elder Shadid and the president talked and laughed about their shared time in the Illinois Senate. “That was really special,” Shadid said. Shadid, who served as the district’s chief judge from 2012 to 2019, remains on the federal bench in Peoria. He has

publicity materials as “Mr. Excitement.” But Buescher valued him for more than his baseball skills. “Everybody liked him and looked up to him,” said Buescher, 78. “Jim always set a good example. He played hard. He was one of the first at practice and one of the last to leave. “And he never complained.” FROM DUGOUTS TO DEFENSE WORK Though undrafted in college, Shadid said he knew his career trajectory: “I was totally going to be a major-league ballplayer.” Graduating in 1979 with a political science degree, he signed with the San Francisco Giants. But after just one long summer rattling around the minor leagues, he realized he needed to reset his dream outside a ballpark. ‘HE WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON DOING THE RIGHT THING’ — Attorney Ron Hamm So, mindful of his respect for law enforcement, he decided to study law. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1983, returning to Peoria as a defense attorney. Early in his practice, he bent the ear of renowned litigator Ron Hamm. “I started showing up at Hamm’s of fice to grab coffee and pick his brain,” Shadid said. “We ended up co-counsel on many cases. His style of lawyering was very successful in front of juries: direct, honest and to the point, with a disarming genuineness.” The same kind of measured, collected approach served Shadid well as an attorney, Hamm said. “He’s a very, very likeable guy,” said Hamm, 81. “He doesn’t shoot from the hip. He was always focused on doing the right thing for his clients.” BUILDING A BROOD, CHAIRING A COURTROOM Meantime, in 1984 Shadid wed Jane

observed an intriguing swirl of legal issues. Some have been as serious as the lengthy kidnap and murder trial of Brendt Christensen, which garnered international attention. Others have been as lighthearted as a case last year accusing Kellogg’s of defrauding customers by selling frosted chocolate fudge Pop-Tarts that lacked key fudge ingredients. The plaintiff lost. As Shadid said, “It’s all very interesting, the variety of cases that come before you.” INTEGRITY MATTERS Shadid frets about judicial integrity across his profession, mostly regarding judges more focused on personal and political agendas than strictly following the law. “I think (the bench’s reputation) is really fragile right now,” Shadid said. “And it really concerns me.” Though Shadid essentially could stay on the federal bench as long as he would like, he says he is unsure of his next steps. “I don’t know exactly what the future holds for me,” he said. “I am only 65. But I do recognize that there comes a time when we must all move on and make room and opportunity for the next generation.” Away from court, Shadid has served with numerous civic organizations, included Boys & Girls Club of Greater Peoria and the Bradley University Board of Trustees. But even if were to hang up his robe, he probably would stay close to the profession, such as serving as a speaker or educator advocating judicial integrity. “I have great respect for the federal judiciary,” he said. “And even if I am not judging, I would like to have a role in it (via) … anything that might help maintain and/or restore the trust and confidence of the people.”

Phil Luciano is a senior writer/columnist for Peoria Magazine and content contributor to public television station WTVP. He can be reached at phil.luciano@wtvp.org

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