 His father was George Shadid, who eventually became sheriff of Peoria County and Illinois state senator.James Shadid earned a Bachelor of Science from Bradley University in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1983.Shadid was in private practice from 1983 to 2001, additionally acting as part-time public defender in Peoria County from 1986 to 2001 and a Commissioner of the Illinois Court of Claims from 1996 to 2001.