Veteran Chicago lawyer and former federal prosecutor Andrew Boutros was sworn in Monday as the 42nd U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia Kendall administered the oath of office for Boutros in a customary private ceremony a little over a week after Boutros’ selection was announced.
“I am humbled and honored to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago,” Boutros said in a statement Monday, also thanking President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and others involved in his selection “for their trust and confidence in me.”
“As U.S. attorney, I am committed to working alongside old and new colleagues to tackle the important problems that face our district,” Boutros said.
Boutros named veteran prosecutor Morris Pasqual, who has served as acting U.S. attorney since John Lausch’s departure in March 2023, to be his first assistant.
Boutros, 47, is a first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Egypt. He attended Virginia Tech University and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2001.
Boutros spent eight years as a federal prosecutor under then-U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, bringing a number of high-profile and complex prosecutions involving everything from international trade to dark web narcotics conspiracy.
He’d most recently served as co-chair of the government investigations and white-collar group at Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP in Chicago.
Boutros was selected by the Trump administration after a search process run by Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, of Peoria. Boutros was appointed as an interim U.S. attorney, which means he was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. His term runs for 120 days or until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed.
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com