The United States District Court for the District of Illinois was established by a statute passed by Congress on March 3, 1819. The act established a single office for a judge to preside over the court. On February 13, 1855, Illinois was divided into two judicial districts, Northern and Southern, with one judgeship authorized for each district. As the population of Illinois grew and the activities of the court increased, Congress authorized additional sites for holding court.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois is a former federal district court for the state of Illinois. The court was established March 3, 1905, by 33 Stat. 992. On October 2, 1978, Illinois was reorganized into the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts, with thirteen judgeships authorized for the Northern District, two for the Central District, and two for the Southern District.
Today, the state of Illinois is comprised of three judicial districts, Northern, Central, and Southern Illinois. Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel, four additional district judges, and four magistrate judges preside over the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Additional history of the court is outlined below.
| Date | Event |
| March 1, 2022 | Monica A. Stump appointed as Clerk of Court |
| September 25, 2020 | Investiture of the Honorable David W. Dugan as U.S. District Judge |
| September 22, 2020 | Investiture of the Honorable Stephen P. McGlynn as U.S. District Judge |
| April 19, 2019 | The passing of the Honorable Clifford J. Proud, Magistrate Judge. |
| April 1, 2019 | The Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel designated as Chief Judge |
| March 31, 2019 | Retirement of the Honorable Michael J. Reagan as U.S. District Judge |
| March 22, 2019 | Formal investiture ceremony of the Honorable Gilbert C. Sison as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| January 7, 2019 | Investiture of Gilbert C. Sison as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| January 4, 2019 | Retirement of the Honorable Donald G. Wilkerson as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| January 2, 2019 | Investiture of Mark A. Beatty as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| December 31, 2018 | Retirement of the Honorable David R. Herndon as U.S. District Judge |
| December 31, 2018 | Retirement of the Honorable Stephen C. Williams as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| October 15, 2018 | Margaret M. Robertie designated as Clerk of Court |
| September 4, 2018 | Tom Galbraith designated as Acting Clerk of Court |
| September 23, 2016 | Formal investiture ceremony of the Honorable Reona J. Daly as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| September 8, 2016 | Retirement of Magistrate Judge Philip M. Frazier as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| Februay 8, 2016 | The passing of the Honorable William D. Stiehl, U.S. District Judge. Born 1925. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan and received commission on June 16, 1986. |
| October 1, 2014 | The Honorable Michael J. Reagan designated as Chief Judge |
| August 22, 2014 | Formal investiture ceremony of the Honorable Staci M. Yandle as U.S. District Judge |
| August 21, 2014 | Investiture of the Honorable Staci M. Yandle as U.S. District Judge |
| July 2, 2014 | Formal investiture ceremony of the Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel as U.S. District Judge |
| May 19, 2014 | Justine Flanagan is designated as Acting Clerk of Court |
| May 19, 2014 | Investiture of the Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel as U.S. District Judge |
| March 15, 2014 | The Honorable J. Phil Gilbert assumes duties as Senior District Judge |
| January 31, 2014 | The Honorable William D. Stiehl assumes inactive status |
| December 1, 2013 | Retirement of the Honorable G. Patrick Murphy as U.S. District Judge |
| June 3, 2012 | The passing of the Honorable James L. Foreman, U.S. Senior District Judge. Born 1927. Nominated by President Nixon and received commission on March 7, 1972. |
| January 2, 2011 | Investiture of the Honorable Stephen C. Williams as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| October 30, 2009 | East St. Louis Courthouse Centennial Celebration |
| October 1, 2009 | Nancy J. Rosenstengel is sworn in as Clerk of Court |
| March 13, 2009 | Margaret Robertie is designated Clerk of Court |
| January 20, 2009 | Keenan G. Casady sworn in as Clerk of Court |
| October 1, 2007 | The Honorable David R. Herndon designated as Chief Judge |
| May 12, 2007 | Retirement of the Honorable James L. Foreman as U.S. District Judge |
| January 4, 2005 | Investiture of the Honorable Donald G. Wilkerson as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| January 3, 2005 | Retirement of Magistrate Judge Gerald B. Cohn as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| October 1, 2001 | The passing of the Honorable Paul E. Riley, U.S. District Judge. Born 4/24/42. Nominated by President Clinton and received commission on October 7, 1994. |
| July 22, 2001 | The passing of the Honorable William L. Beatty, U.S. Senior District Judge. Born 9/4/25. Nominated by President Carter and received commission on October 5, 1979. |
| October 23, 2000 | Investiture of the Honorable Michael J. Reagan as U.S. District Judge |
| October 1, 2000 | The Honorable G. Patrick Murphy designated as Chief Judge |
| December 10, 1999 | Retirement of the Honorable Paul E. Riley as U.S. District Judge |
| November 16, 1998 | Investiture of the Honorable David R. Herndon as U.S. District Judge |
| May 4, 1998 | Investiture of the Honorable G. Patrick Murphy as U.S. District Judge |
| May 13, 1997 | Norbert G. Jaworski sworn in as Clerk of Court |
| November 30, 1996 | The Honorable William D. Stiehl assumes duties as Senior District Judge |
| October 7, 1994 | Investiture of the Honorable Paul E. Riley as U.S. District Judge |
| April 7, 1994 | Investiture of the Honorable Clifford J. Proud as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| October 1, 1993 | The Honorable J. Phil Gilbert designated as Chief Judge |
| November 19, 1992 | The Honorable William L. Beatty assumes duties as Senior District Judge |
| October 19, 1992 | Investiture of the Honorable J. Phil Gilbert as U.S. District Judge |
| June 1, 1992 | The Honorable James L. Foreman assumes duties as Senior District Judge. The Honorable William D. Stiehl designated as Chief Judge. |
| November 13, 1991 | Groundbreaking Ceremony, Federal Office Building, 302 West Main Street, Benton, Illinois. |
| May 21, 1991 | Judge William L. Beatty, his staff and Clerk's Office personnel move from the Alton, IL court facility to East St. Louis. |
| October 26, 1990 | Dedication and Open House for the Melvin Price Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse |
| May 25, 1990 | Investiture of the Honorable John Marshall Ferguson as part-time U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| April 3, 1989 | Stuart J. O'Hare is sworn in as Clerk of the Court |
| 1988-1994 | Judge Foreman serves on the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Judicial Resources |
| December 7, 1988 | The passing of the Honorable William G. Juergens, U.S. District Judge. Born September 1904, nominated by President Eisenhower and received commission on June 22, 1956. |
| May 8, 1987 | Investiture of the Honorable Philip M. Frazier as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| August 29, 1986 | Investiture of the Honorable William D. Stiehl U.S. District Judge |
| March 7, 1986 | Groundbreaking and Open House Ceremony for new U.S. Courthouse, East St. Louis, Illinois. |
| January 3, 1982 | A. Marvin Helart is sworn in as Clerk of Court |
| May 1, 1981 | Investiture of the Honorable Gerald B. Cohn as U.S. Magistrate Judge |
| October 19, 1979 | Investiture of the Honorable William L. Beatty as U.S. District Judge |
| April 1, 1979 | Redistricting is official. The new Southern District of Illinois is created. |
| March 31, 1979 | The Honorable James L. Foreman designated as Chief Judge of the Southern District of Illinois, duty station of East St. Louis, Illinois. |
| March 22, 1979 | Order carrying out the creation of the new Southern and Central districts of Illinois. |
| March 16, 1979 | Investiture of the Honorable Robert W. Schmieder as part-time Magistrate Judge for the new Southern District of Illinois. |
| November, 1978 | B. D. Hudgens is sworn in as Clerk of Court |
| October 2, 1978 | Federal District Court Organization Act of 1978 signed by President Carter, effective March 31, 1979. |
| April 5, 1978 | Bill introduced by Senator Percy to change judicial districts in the State of Illinois. |
| March 31, 1978 | The Honorable James L. Foreman designated as Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Illinois, duty station of East St. Louis, Illinois. |
| July 14, 1976 | Congress appropriates $5.4 million for East St. Louis Courthouse and Federal Building. |
| March 7, 1972 | Investiture of the Honorable James L. Foreman as U.S. District Judge. |
| October 23, 1958 | Cornerstone laid at the Benton U.S. Post Office and Court House. |
| July 23, 1908 | Cornerstone laid at the East St. Louis U.S. Post Office and Court House. |