Abner Mikva
Abner Joseph Mikva (January 21, 1926 – July 4, 2016) was an American politician, federal judge, and legal scholar. He was a member of the Democratic Party. After serving in the Illinois House of Representatives, Mikva ran for congress in 1966 but lost the primary to incumbent congressman Barrett O'Hara. In 1968, Mikva defeated O'Hara. Mikva served in the United States House of Representatives representing Illinois's 2nd congressional district (1969–1973) and 10th congressional district (1975–1979). He was appointed as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Jimmy Carter, serving from 1979 to 1994. He served as the White House Counsel from 1994 to 1995 during Bill Clinton's presidency. He was one of the few people in modern times to serve in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Federal government.
Abner Mikva | |
|---|---|
Mikva in 1977 | |
| White House Counsel | |
| In office October 1, 1994 – November 1, 1995 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Cutler |
| Succeeded by | Jack Quinn |
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office January 19, 1991 – September 19, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Patricia Wald |
| Succeeded by | Harry T. Edwards |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office September 26, 1979 – September 19, 1994 | |
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Merrick Garland |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – September 26, 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel H. Young |
| Succeeded by | John Porter |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Barratt O'Hara |
| Succeeded by | Morgan F. Murphy |
| Chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission | |
| In office 2006–2009 | |
| Preceded by | J. B. Pritzker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Abner Joseph Mikva January 21, 1926 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 2016 (aged 90) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Washington University (BA) University of Chicago (JD) |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014) |
In his later career, Mikva taught at the University of Chicago Law School, the Georgetown University Law Center and the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He mentored future President of the United States Barack Obama and future United States Attorney General Merrick Garland (who also succeeded him on the D.C. Circuit) during their early years in law. In 2014, Obama honored Mikva with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.