Chicago federal court gets first female chief judge

CHICAGO - A college student in northwest Indiana was in the cafeteria line when a friend asked what she planned to do with the rest of her life.

"You're going to law school, right, Becky? Because I know you love to argue."

Rebecca Pallmeyer, midscoop of corn and mashed potatoes, did like to argue. But, over the years, she came to like making the final decision even more.

Now, Pallmeyer, who took her lunch companion's advice and went to law school, is the new chief judge of Chicago's federal court. She is the first woman to lead the district in its 200 years.

"It's really an honor," Pallmeyer said during a break from her caseload in her chambers on the 25th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. "And I think that it should be encouraging, not just to women but to people generally, that devoting yourself to a project or an institution pays off."

Over the years, Pallmeyer's conviction in her job has only grown.

"It's so much more satisfying to be the one that sits and makes the hard decisions, but