Gregory K. Harris

Gregory K. Harris was named the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. He took on the title of the first African-American to serve as the district’s Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official. On October 27, 2021, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden for the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, which was then unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2021. Attorney Gregory K. Harris took the oath of Office to become the Top Federal Prosecutor for the Central District of Illinois on December 13, 2021. He was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge Sara Darrow at the federal courthouse in Davenport, Iowa. United States Attorney Gregory Harris succeeds former U.S. Attorney John C. Milhiser, who tendered his resignation to President Joe Biden in February 2021. The vacancy was temporarily filled in by Douglas J. Quivey, who served as Acting U.S. Attorney upon the stepping down of former U.S. Attorney Milhiser until U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris took over in December 2021.

Educational Background and Early Professional Career

In January 1971, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University. Before attending law school, he worked as a Courtroom Clerk at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from January 1971 through September 1973. He eventually pursued law and attended The John Marshall Law School in 1973, receiving his Juris Doctorate in June 1976.

The John Marshall Law School, 1973-1976
J.D. – June 1976
Howard University, 1966-1971
B.A. – January 1971

Legal Career of Attorney Harris

Office of the State Appellate Defender in Springfield, Il

A month prior to his graduation from law school, Top Federal Prosecutor Harris was appointed as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Office of the State Appellate Defender, where his primary role was to provide criminal appellate representation to indigent clients in both the Illinois Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court. U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris remained in this capacity for approximately three years, from May 1976 to January 1979.

Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development & Solo Practice

From litigation to providing legal advice, the general character of U.S. Attorney Harris’ law practice shifted as he entered the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development, which was later renamed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. He was a part of the Office as a Legal Counsel, providing legal advice solely to the Director of the Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and the agency employees. U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris remained in the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development for about a year, from January 1979 to March 1980, prior to briefly serving as a Solo Practitioner. Top Federal Prosecutor Harris established a private law practice, wherein he represented private clients in the State trial courts.

Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois & Private Practice

In May of 1980, U.S. Attorney Harris became a part of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. His practice also shifted to prosecuting federal criminal and civil matters, where his sole client was the United States of America. For about eight years, until January 1988, Top Federal Prosecutor Harris remained in government service in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Following his service in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, United States Attorney Harris joined Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. as an Associate. Moving to private practice, his work became primarily focused on civil litigation in the State and Federal courts and administrative bodies. During this time, Top Federal Prosecutor Gregory Harris represented an array of clients and cases, from individuals involved in civil rights and personal injury cases to public agencies such as the Illinois Board of Regents, the Illinois Department of Conservation, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Industrial Commission. Several insurance companies also hired U.S. Attorney Harris to defend them in personal injury claims. Four years into his service in the Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, in 1992, U.S. Attorney Harris was named Partner in the law firm. He remained in this capacity for another nine years until he stepped down in September 2001.

Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois

Following over his decade of service in the Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C., Top Federal Prosecutor Gregory Harris returned to the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, where he remained committed to up to this day. He was initially appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in September 2001, proceeding with the federal criminal practice in federal courts. In 2002, U.S. Attorney Harris was designated in the Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group. At the same time, he became a member of the Criminal Chiefs Working Group, where he worked for four years, from 2002 to 2006. In recent years, Top Federal Prosecutor Gregory Harris has been assigned to work in various teams, including being designated in the Healthcare Task Force for the Central District of Illinois from 2015 to 2017; in the Federal Reentry Program since 2016; in the Springfield Police Department’s Multi-Disciplinary Team, also since 2016; and in the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force since 2017.

Honors and Awards

Throughout his professional career, U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris has shown exceptional service and outstanding dedication, which has been duly recognized. He has received numerous honors and awards, including an Award for Outstanding Service as an Assistant United States Attorney in 1981; Awards for Service as an Assistant United States Attorney from the Illinois State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, both in 1982; a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Secret Service in 1983; a Certificate of Recognition from the Internal Revenue Service in 1984; the Special Achievement Award from the United States Department of Justice in 1985; the United States Marshals Award in 1986; and numerous Letters of Commendation from several government agencies across the years 1986 to 1988. United States Attorney Gregory Harris also received a Director’s Award from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys for his exceptional Contributions that Enhance the Missions of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and the United States Attorney’s Offices in 2020.

Director’s Award, Executive Office of United States Attorneys, Exceptional
- Contributions that Enhance the Missions of the Executive Office for United States
- Attorneys and the United States Attorney’s Offices, 2020
Award of Distinction, Springfield Urban League, 1991
Chairman’s Award, Springfield Urban League, 1990
Letter of Commendation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, 1988
Letter of Commendation, Postal Inspection Service, 1987
Letter of Commendation, Postal Inspection Service, 1987
Letter of Commendation, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1988
Letter of Commendation, Drug Enforcement Administration, 1988
Letter of Commendation, Corps of Engineers, 1988
Letter of Commendation, Postal Inspection Service, 1987
United States Marshals Award, 1986
Letter of Commendation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1986
Special Achievement Award, United States Department of Justice, 1985
Conferee, National Appellate Advocacy Conference, 1985
Certificate of Recognition, Internal Revenue Service, 1984
Certificate of Appreciation, United States Secret Service, 1983
Award for service as an Assistant United States Attorney, Illinois State Police, 1982
Award for service as an Assistant United States Attorney, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 1982
Award for Outstanding Service as an Assistant United States Attorney, 1981
Moot Court Judge, Southern Illinois University, 1977
Officer, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, 1974 – 1976
Intern, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, 1976
Participant, National Moot Court Competition, 1974

Most Significant Litigated Cases

The Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois acts on behalf of the United States in litigation in federal court, wherein the Office conducts criminal prosecutions and represents the government in civil matters. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Top Federal Prosecutor Gregory Harris has handled an array of significant cases, including the prosecution of a defendant involved in an extortionate extension of credit. U.S. Attorney Harris served as the sole prosecutor on the case, which led to the defendant’s conviction for collecting drug debts using force and violence that was believed to have led to a number of unsolved murders in Springfield. The defendant was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in 1986.

In 2008, U.S. Attorney Harris also began working on a case against a 45-year-old man, who was charged with enticing 13 and 14-year-old girls to do sexual activities using the Internet. U.S. Attorney Harris was the lead attorney on the case, providing the opening statement and closing argument during the trial. Ultimately, the defendant was convicted of using a facility for interstate commerce to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, resulting in his sentence of 240 months in prison.

10 most significant litigated matters handled by Attorney Gregory Harris

United States v. William O. Whitlow (1981 – 1983)
United States v. Tony Ashford (1984 – 1986)
United States v. James Hocking (1984 – 1987)
United States v. Richard Weisman (1981 – 1983)
United States v. Lenita Spears (1993 – 1995)
United States v. Raymond Talkington (1986 -1988)
United States v. William Lone (1985 – 1988)
United States v. Shawn Bland (2005 – 2006)
United States v. Jeffrey Chambers (2008 -2010)
United States v. Karen Cohen (2005 -2007)

Further details regarding the above litigation matters may be found in the public questionnaire accessible here.

Other Legal Endeavors

Apart from litigated cases, Top Federal Prosecutor Harris also pursued other legal activities. Among his most remarkable legal endeavors throughout his professional life include aiding in the founding of the Springfield Coalition of Black Attorneys (SCOBA) in 1976. SCOBA is a regional bar association with a mission to advance the legal careers of black lawyers in the Springfield region. SCOBA’s active participation in an array of initiatives, such as educating residents about the Voting Rights Act, benefited the Springfield community and eventually transformed the city’s government structure to allow for the election of municipal councils from districts. United States Attorney Gregory Harris was also involved in forming and operating various task forces, including the Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group and the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force. He also remained vital in the operation of the Healthcare Task Force in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

Bar Associations

American Bar Association
National Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Sangamon County Bar Association
Merit Selection Committee for Magistrate
Illinois State Bar Association, Task Force on Minorities and the Justice System
Illinois State Bar Association, Civil Practice Member

Bar Admissions

Illinois, 1976
District of Columbia, 1979

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1981)
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (1980)
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1991)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (2001)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (2020)
All state courts in Illinois (1976)

Memberships

Lincoln Land Community College, Tutor (1990 – 1991)
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers (1990 -2001)
- Legal Counsel (1990 – 1995)
Copley First Citizen Selection Panel (1995)
Healthfirst Community Clinic Board of Directors (1993 – 2000)
Springfield College in Illinois Board of Directors (1992 – 1999)
Big Brother/Big Sister of Sangamon County Board of Directors (1991 – 1995)
- Big Brother (1980 – 1984)
Springfield Area Arts Council (1991 – 1995)
Sangamon State University Foundation (1991 – 1992)
Springfield Civil Service Commission (1988 – 1990)
Springfield Tennis Academy (1994 – present)
- Treasurer (1984 – present)
Springfield Urban League (1984 – 1990)
- Chairman (1989 – 1990)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1983 – present)
- Treasurer (1983 – 1984)
United Way of Sangamon County (1980 – 1990)
Aid to Retarded Citizens (1980 – 1984)

Published Writings by State’s Attorney Harris

Editorial, Andy Rooney of CBS, WMAY Radio, 1990
Editorial, Racially based College Scholarships, WMAY Radio, 1990.
Editorial, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, WMAY Radio, 1990
Letter to John Billington, State Journal Register, February 9, 1987

Office Jurisdiction

As the incumbent Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris leads the Office of the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois as it prosecutes all criminal cases brought by the federal government, litigates and defends the United States in civil cases, and collects debts owed to the federal government. Top Federal Prosecutor Gregory K. Harris shall continue to pursue the fair and impartial administration of justice for all with the help of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support personnel across the offices in Peoria, Rock Island, Springfield, and Urbana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois shall serve and protect its citizens within all 46 of the 102 counties in the State of Illinois.