Prairie State Wire

A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted Walter Brzowski, 67, of Chicago, on eleven counts of forgery. The charges stem from allegations that Brzowski forged the signatures of two United States District Court judges in documents filed with the court. Each count carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The date for his arraignment has not been set.

Court documents state that Brzowski represented himself in several civil lawsuits he filed in federal court. Both the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed these cases and found many filings to be frivolous. In 2021, an order from the Executive Committee of the U.S. District Court placed restrictions on Brzowski’s ability to file new civil cases, warning him that violations could result in monetary sanctions or contempt findings.

In 2023, according to authorities, Brzowski submitted a notice to the District Court asserting he was no longer subject to filing restrictions and directed court staff to lift them. This notice included what appeared to be an Executive Committee Order signed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer; however, it was later determined that Judge Pallmeyer’s signature had been forged and Brzowski was sanctioned $25,000 as a result. Officials allege he continued submitting materials with forged signatures through 2025, including those purporting to bear signatures from both Judge Pallmeyer and Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stern is representing the government.

“The forgery of a judge’s signature is a serious matter and an attack on the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “We will hold accountable those who use forgeries and frauds to undermine the important judicial work of the Honorable Judges of the Northern District of Illinois.”

“The defendant allegedly sent fraudulent court orders through the U.S. mail bearing forged signatures of multiple United States District Court judges in an effort to circumvent standing orders and unlawfully twist the legal system to his favor,” said Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “Thankfully, Chicago Postal Inspectors uncovered his scheme to delegitimize the rule of law, and brought him to justice."

An indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt; Brzowski is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.