Judge Forger Walter Brzowski Faces Federal Charges

CHICAGO – Walter Brzowski, 67, of Chicago, is facing federal charges after allegedly forging the signatures of two United States District Court judges on court filings, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday. The brazen scheme aimed to circumvent court orders and manipulate the legal system, according to prosecutors.

Brzowski has been indicted on eleven counts of forgery, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The indictment stems from a pattern of frivolous civil lawsuits filed by Brzowski, representing himself, that were repeatedly dismissed by both the U.S. District Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2021, the court issued restrictions on Brzowski’s ability to file new cases, warning of sanctions for violations.

Undeterred, Brzowski allegedly attempted to lift those restrictions through deception. In 2023, he filed a “notice” claiming he was relieved of the prohibitions and directing the District Court Clerk’s Office to rescind the filing restrictions. This notice included a fabricated Executive Committee Order, purportedly signed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer. The court quickly determined the signature was a forgery and slapped Brzowski with a $25,000 sanction.

The alleged forgery didn’t stop there. Prosecutors say Brzowski continued to submit materials to the court, including multiple filings in 2025 containing forged signatures of both Judge Pallmeyer and U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall. The scheme involved sending these fraudulent orders through the U.S. mail, attempting to unlawfully influence the legal process.

“The forgery of a judge’s signature is a serious matter and an attack on the rule of law,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Andrew S. Boutros, in a press release. “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.” Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, added that the defendant attempted to “delegitimize the rule of law,” but was brought to justice thanks to Postal Inspectors.

Arraignment has not yet been scheduled. Brzowski is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Stern is handling the prosecution. The case was jointly announced by U.S. Attorney Boutros, Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça, and U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, LaDon A. Reynolds. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.