Preceded by Joe Billy McDade Name Michael McCuskey Appointed by Bill Clinton Role Judge | Preceded by Harold A. Baker Succeeded by James E. Shadid Spouse(s) Barbara Huber McCuskey | |
Born June 30, 1948 (age 75)
Peoria, Illinois, U.S. ( 1948-06-30 ) Alma mater Illinois State University
Saint Louis University School of Law Education Illinois State University, Saint Louis University School of Law | ||
Michael Patrick McCuskey (born June 30, 1948, Peoria, Illinois) is an American judge from Illinois. He has served as a state circuit and appellate judge, and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He is also chairman of Illinois State University Board of Trustees, for a term expiring in January 2017.
Contents
- Education
- Career
- State judicial service
- Federal judicial service
- Return to state judicial service
- Personal
- References
Education
In 1966, McCuskey graduated in a class of 16 students at Sparland High School, Sparland, Illinois. He was recruited to Illinois State University in 1966 by baseball coach Duffy Bass, who told McCuskey about the new Political Science department starting at ISU that autumn. While at ISU, he was a member of the 1969 baseball team that played in the NCAA College Division championships; a sore arm ended his pitching career. McCuskey received a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University in 1970 as part the first class to graduate from ISU's Political Science department. Following graduation, he was a baseball coach and history teacher at Ottawa Township High School, Ottawa, Illinois for two years, then entered the Saint Louis University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1975.
Career
He was in private practice as a partner in the law firm of Pace, McCuskey and Galley in Lacon, Illinois from 1975 to 1988, and was also the chief public defender of Marshall County, Illinois, from 1976 to 1988.
State judicial service
He was elected an Illinois state circuit court judge on the Tenth Judicial Circuit from 1988 to 1990, where he sat in felony court at Peoria. When two new seats were created on the Illinois Appellate Court, he was elected to the Third District Appellate Court, serving from 1990 to 1998.
Federal judicial service
He was nominated for the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois by President Bill Clinton on July 31, 1997, to a seat vacated by Harold A. Baker. McCuskey was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 2, 1998, and received his commission on April 3, 1998. He served as chief judge of the district from December 14, 2004 to March 12, 2012, when he swore in successor James E. Shadid. McCuskey took senior status on June 30, 2013, and retired from the bench on May 31, 2014; he was succeeded by Judge Colin S. Bruce.
Return to state judicial service
He was appointed to the Illinois Tenth Judicial Circuit, his original seat, taking office on June 3, 2014 to complete the term of the retiring Kevin Galley. McCuskey took up his seat in Marshall County, and stated his intention to run for election in November 2016.
Personal
His wife, Barbara Huber McCuskey, graduated from Illinois State University in 1987; as of 2006, they had one son and lived in Urbana, and as of 2015 lived in Lacon.