Judge Edmond E. Chang: The Ideas That Unite Us

Judge Edmond E. Chang has served on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois since 2011. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest serving federal judge, creating unique challenges related to experience and a perceived balance of power.
Before he was appointed to the federal bench, Judge Chang served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, where he prosecuted an array of federal offenses. He was promoted to Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section and then to Chief of Appeals of the criminal division. He also practiced employment law at Sidley Austin.
In this interview, he speaks about the challenges of being an Asian American attorney in BigLaw, which is largely led by white male attorneys; rising above politics to ‘get the right answer;’ and giving back to the community.
Our Profiles in Professionalism series provides in-depth conversations with Illinois lawyers and judges who are shaping the culture of the legal profession. Through these interviews, the Commission hopes to preserve the oral histories of prominent members of the Illinois bench and bar.