A former Quad Cities-area prosecutor is the new chief federal judge for the Central District of Illinois.
Sara L. Darrow - the first woman to hold the position - began her duties Tuesday.
She replaces James Shadid, who remains with the court after completing a seven-year term as Chief Judge.
Darrow worked as an assistant state’s prosecutor in Henry County before moving to the U.S. attorney’s office in Rock Island. She was appointed a district court judge in the Rock Island division by President Obama in 2011.
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois hears cases in Peoria, Springfield, Rock Island and Urbana.
