Ira was born and raised in New Orleans, and has a JD from Tulane Law School. For most of his legal career, he has written opinions for federal courts in both New Orleans and Chicago, as well as criminal appeals for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. He also sometimes teaches appellate advocacy at the John Marshall Law School. He is an avid moviegoer and was a member of the documentary film jury for the New Orleans Film Fest before moving to Chicago.