Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has been appointed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. to serve as the Counselor to the Chief Justice. Judge Dow will leave the Northern District bench and begin his new role at the Supreme Court on December 5, 2022. As Counselor to the Chief Justice, Judge Dow will serve as the Chief Justice’s chief of staff, work in partnership with court executives and judges on matters of judicial administration, and represent the Chief Justice in relations with judicial organizations, foreign courts, and visiting dignitaries.

Judge Dow was appointed to the District Court in December 2007, and he has served as the Chair of the Judicial Conference’s Advisory Committee on Civil Rules since 2013. Judge Dow also served as a member of the Advisory Committee on Appellate Rules from 2010 to 2013, and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Circuit Rules for the Seventh Circuit.

The Chief Justice said the following of Judge Dow’s appointment as Counselor: “I am pleased that Judge Dow has accepted my invitation to assist this Court and courts across the country in their important work. He is well prepared to take on these new responsibilities, and I look forward to a long and productive relationship.” Chief Judge of the Northern District Rebecca Pallmeyer said: “We are proud that Judge Dow’s talents have been recognized, and will miss him as he takes on this new challenge and fulfills an important service to our nation.” For his part, Judge Dow said: “I am grateful to Chief Justice Roberts for the opportunity to serve him, the Supreme Court, and the judicial branch in this new role. It is an honor and privilege to succeed Jeffrey Minear following his long and highly successful tenure as Counselor.”