In this episode of the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci sits down with the Honorable Ruben Castillo, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and mediator and arbitrator for FedArb. Ruben discusses his incredible leadership journey, including serving as a leader of his neighborhood hockey team, to becoming the first Hispanic Chief Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. He also shares stories about people who inspired him during his journey, his determination to attend law school and become a trial attorney, and his ambition to become a judge.
This week on the Everybody Leads podcast, Tim Lupinacci welcomes the Honorable Ruben Castillo, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Ruben is a trailblazer in the American judiciary and a steadfast advocate for justice and equity. He has accomplished many firsts in his career and broken barriers, including becoming the first member of this family to graduate from college and making history as the first Hispanic federal district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1994 and the first Hispanic chief judge of that court in 2013. Throughout his 25-year tenure on the bench, Ruben was known for his unwavering commitment to fairness, his mentorship of young legal professionals, and his deep connection to the communities he served.
Ruben was appointed by President Clinton as the Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission in 1999 and then reappointed by President George W. Bush to a second term as Vice Chair in 2004. He also served in the Special Prosecution Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, where he received numerous awards. Ruben now serves as a mediator, arbitrator, and litigation consultant for the Federal Arbitration (FedArb).
Ruben shares his leadership journey, highlighting the leadership skills he learned from playing hockey at a young age and serving as a lawyer for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He also delves into his early inspirations during his journey, how serving as a clerk for the night court influenced his career trajectory, and the lessons he learned from managing a court. Ruben emphasizes the importance of time management skills, mentorship, gaining exposure to diverse leadership styles, understanding one's own strengths, leading by example, and creating a fun culture.
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Federal Arbitration
Contact Ruben Castillo