Our Bureau
Chicago, IL
Jurist Amrith Kaur Aakre has become the new director of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Chicago District, the federal agency has announced. Aakre, took her oath on the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, and began her new role on Jan 29, 2024. She most recently served as the legal director for the Sikh Coalition.
“Ms. Aakre has a proven track record of creative problem solving, broad management experience, and a deep commitment to civil rights,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A Burrows. “I am pleased that she will be joining the EEOC’s Chicago District.”
“I have incredible respect for the EEOC and its mission to advance equal employment opportunities for all, and I’m grateful to be appointed Chicago District Director. I look forward to working together with the dedicated members of the Chicago District to create impactful change and combat unlawful employment discrimination across our region,” said Aakre.
“I am also excited to learn from the various stakeholder groups, civil rights and other professional organizations, and members of employee and employer communities how the Chicago District offices can best serve their needs,” she said. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue engaging with civil rights work and am honored to lead the Chicago District moving forward.”
Prior to joining the Commission, Aakre led a national civil rights practice focused on high-impact, systemic litigation matters in areas such as workplace discrimination, hate crimes, school discrimination, racial profiling, and bias-based policy issues. She also previously served as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago for more than 11 years, during which time she directed efforts to expand access to restorative justice and rehabilitative courts.
The EEOC’s Chicago District is responsible for processing charges of discrimination, administrative enforcement, and the conduct of agency litigation in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota, with area offices in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
