This oral history project began with the work of Judges James F. Henry and Theodore M. Swain to collect the oral histories of Cook County Judges. The two Judges passed the work on to graduate students at Loyola University Chicago under the guidance of Professor Christopher E. Manning. Judges Swain and Henry continued to offer assistance to the project. Loyola Archivist Kathy Young helped to coordinate the sharing of the oral histories with the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, and archived the oral histories at Loyola University Chicago. Justin Law coordinated the sharing of the oral histories for the Illinois Supreme Court Preservation Commission, and archived the oral histories with the Commission. Joshah Samuel Raj and Matt Burns provided technical assistance and developed the oral history webpage for the Commission. Please send any comments, questions or concerns to justin.law@illinoiscourthistory.org
Judge Eugene Wachowski-transcript only
Judge Eugene Wachowski (1901-1999) was elected to the Municipal Court in 1954, and the Circuit Court in 1964, where he served until 1976. Judge Wachowski was recalled in 1979 and served until 1992. In this oral history Judge Wachowski relates to fellow Judges James F. Henry, James Murray, Michael J. Murphy, John A. McElligott, Francis Barth, and Marjan Peter Staniec, his early life and family history; his education; and his career as a lawyer and judge. Judge Wachowski gives his impressions of the judiciary in Cook County, along with the relationship between politics and the courts in Cook County. The oral history spans the 1930’s to the 1990’s.
Judge George Leighton
Judge George Leighton (1912-) served as a Circuit Court Judge from 1964-1969, an Appellate Court Judge from 1969-1976, and as a U.S. District Judge from 1976-1987. In this oral history Judge Leighton discusses his early life and family history; his education; and his career as a lawyer and judge.
Judge Robert Dempsey-transcript only
Judge Robert Dempsey (1929-) was appointed a Magistrate of the Circuit Court in 1964, appointed an Associate Judge in 1971 and 1975, and elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1976. Judge Dempsey was retained in 1982, but resigned in 1986. In this oral history Judge Dempsey discusses his early life and family history; his education; his time as a Magistrate and Associate Judge.
Judge Richard Fitzgerald
Judge Richard Fitzgerald (1914-2010) was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1964, and served in the Criminal Division until 1974, when he was appointed the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division. From 1974-1991, Judge Fitzgerald served as the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division. In this oral history Judge Fitzgerald discusses his early life and family history; his education; and his career as a lawyer and judge. Judge Fitzgerald discusses the Criminal Courts in Chicago, his role as Presiding Judge, and various reforms that were implemented under his tenure. Judge Fitzgerald also shares his thoughts on the nature of crime, and issues related to the judiciary.
Judge David Cerda-transcript only
Judge David Cerda (1927-) was appointed an Associate Judge in 1965, and was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1966. From 1965-1966 Judge Cerda served the Sixth Municipal District, from 1966-1976 he served the First Municipal District, and from 1976-1989 he served the Law Division-Jury Selection. In 1989 Judge Cerda was appointed to the Appellate Court, where he served until his retirement in 2002. In this oral history Judge Cerda relates to fellow Judges James F. Henry, and Mark Lopez, along with Karina Ayalla-Barmejo, Virginia Martinez, Theresa Christenson, and David Badillo, his early life and family history; his education; and his career as a lawyer and judge. Judge Cerda also discusses his role in the Mexican-American community of Chicago, and his participation in a variety of community and legal organizations.
Judge Paul Elward-transcript only
Judge Paul Elward (1926-2009) served as a state representative in the General Assembly from 1957-1969, was a delegate to the 1970 Constitutional Convention, and served as a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County from 1970-1994. In this oral history Judge Elward relates to fellow Judge James F. Henry the story of his early life growing up in Chicago; family history; early practice of law; career as a member of the General Assembly; and the Constitutional Convention of 1970.
Judge Michael Stephen Jordan-transcript only
Judge Michael Jordan (1947-) was an Associate Judge from 1974-1984. He was elected to the Circuit Court in 1984, and was retained in 1990, and 1996. He retired in 2000. From 1974-1982 he served the First Municipal District, from 1982-1987 he served as the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division, and from 1987-2000 he served the Circuit Court in the Second Municipal District. In this oral history Judge Jordan discusses his family background; education and fraternity life; Chicago politics; career as a lawyer; becoming a Judge; and his career as a Judge.
Judge Aaron Jaffe-transcript only
Judge Aaron Jaffe (1930- ) served as a state representative in the General Assembly from 1971-1985, and as a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County from 1985-2004. Judge Jaffe was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1985, and elected in 1986; he was retained in 1992 and 1998. He served in the Domestic Relations Division from 1985-1991, the Law Division-Jury Selection from 1991-1993, and the Chancery Division from 1993-2004. He is currently the Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board. In this three part oral history Judge Jaffe relates to fellow Judges James F. Henry, James Flannery, and Francis Barth, along with Dana Bowers, and Walter Roth, the story of his early life growing up in Chicago; family history; early practice of law; career as a member of the General Assembly; and his time as a Circuit Court Judge.
Judge R. Eugene Pincham Judge R. Eugene Pincham (1925-2008) served as Circuit Court Judge in Cook County from 1976-1984, working in the Criminal Division, and as an Appellate Court Judge for the First District from 1984-1989. In this two part oral history Judge Pincham relates the story of his early life growing up in Limestone County, Athens, Alabama; his early education and upbringing; family; education at Le Moyne College in Memphis, and at Tennessee State University in Nashville; work in Chicago prior to becoming a lawyer; attending law school at Northwestern University; his wife Alzata and family; practicing law; U.S. Supreme Court cases he was involved in; getting slated to run for Circuit Judge in 1976; judicial career; running for Cook County Board President in 1990; race and gender in politics; issues relating to the criminal justice system; and the importance of extracurricular activities.
Judge Theodore Swain
Judge Theodore Swain (1927-) was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1976 and served until 1983. In this oral history Judge Swain discusses his early life and family history; his education; his time in the Navy; and his early career as a lawyer.
Judge Michael C. Close
Judge Michael C. Close (1934-) was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1976, and served until 1994. In this oral history Judge Close discusses his early life and family history; his education; work history; career as a lawyer; and briefly discusses the relationship between politics and the judiciary.
Judge Thomas P. Durkin-transcript only
Judge Thomas P. Durkin (1943-) served as an Associate Judge in the Sixth Municipal District from 1979-1985, and as a Circuit Court Judge from 1985-2001. From 1985-1994 he served in the Criminal Division, and from 1994-2001 he served in the Chancery Division. In this oral history, Judge Durkin discusses his early life and family history; attending Loyola University; and his career as a Judge. Judge Durkin also discusses the relationship between politics and the Cook County judiciary.
Judge Ralph Reyna
Judge Ralph Reyna (1943-) served as an Associate Judge from 1984-1994, and as a Circuit Court Judge from 1994-2006. Judge Reyna was appointed an Associate Judge in 1984, served in Traffic Court from 1984-1985, served the Second Municipal District from 1985-1987 hearing civil and criminal cases, and served in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court from 1987-1994. From 1994-2003 Judge Reyna served as a Circuit Judge in the Criminal Division, and from 2003-2006 he served in the Law Division-Jury Selection. In this oral history Judge Reyna discusses his early life and family history; his career as a Judge; and also discusses the relationship between culture and the law.
Judge Edward Burr
Judge Edward Burr (1931-) was appointed an Associate Judge for the First Municipal Court in 1984. In 1988 he was elected to the Circuit Court and was retained in 1994 and 2000. From 1991-2006 he served in the Law Division-Jury Section. In this oral history Judge Burr discusses his family history; education; service in the Air Force; his career as a lawyer in private practice and in the Corporation Counsel’s Office of the City of Chicago; his career as a judge; and the judiciary in Cook County.
Judge Sidney A. Jones III
Judge Sidney Jones III (1943-) was appointed a Circuit Court Judge in 1985, and elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1986. Judge Jones was retained in 1992, and 1998. From 1985-1987 he served as a Trial Judge; in 1987 he served as an Assignment Judge; from 1987-1989 he served the First Municipal District; from 1989-1999 he served as the Supervising Judge of the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court. From 1999 until his retirement in 2001 he served as a Circuit Court Judge in the Chancery Division. In this oral history Judge Jones discusses his early life and family history; his education; his career as a lawyer and judge; and in detail discusses his efforts to remove the case back log in the courts under his supervision. Judge Jones also discusses the importance of case management, and fairness, to the judiciary.
Judge Michael J. Hogan
Judge Michael J. Hogan (1946-) was appointed to the Circuit Court in 1987, elected in 1988, and initially served the First Municipal District. From 1989-1992 he served in the Law Division, and from 1992-94 the Law Division, Progress Call. From 1994-2005 he served in the Law Division, Motions Section. Judge Hogan was retained in 1994 and 2000. He retired from the bench in 2005. In this oral history Judge Hogan discusses his family history; education; his career as a lawyer in private practice and in the Attorney General’s office; his career as a Judge; and the Cook County judiciary.
Judge Sheldon Gardner
Judge Sheldon Gardner (1928-) was appointed an Associate Judge in 1988 and elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1992. From 1988-1990 he served in Traffic Court and then in Housing Court, and from 1990-1997 he served in the Domestic Relations Division. From 1997- he served in the Law Division. In this oral history Judge Gardner discusses his early life and family history; his education; his work with the Independent Voters of Illinois; politics; and his efforts at reform.
Judge Bernetta D. Bush
Judge Bernetta D. Bush (1948-) was elected a Circuit Court Judge in 1992, and was retained in 1998 and 2004; she retired in 2007. Judge Bush served the First Municipal District, hearing civil cases, from 1992-1994. From 1994-2000 she served in the County Division, and from 2000-2007 she served in the Chancery Division. In the following oral history Judge Bush discusses her early life and family history; her education; her career as a lawyer and judge; the relationship between the community and the judiciary; and the nature of the Cook County judiciary.
Judge Jesse Reyes
Judge Jesse Reyes was elected an Associate Judge by the Circuit Court Judges in 1997. From 1997-1999 he served the First Municipal District, and from 1999-2001 he served the Sixth Municipal District. Judge Reyes was elected to the Circuit Court in 2008 and currently serves in the Chancery Division, Mortgage Foreclosure and Mechanic’s Lien Section. In this oral history Judge Reyes discusses his family history; education; his early work life; becoming a lawyer; his career as a lawyer in private practice and for the City of Chicago; and his career as a judge.
Judge Mark Lopez
Judge Mark Lopez was elected an Associate Judge by the Circuit Judges of Cook County in 1999. He has served in the Child Protection Division, and the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court. In this oral history Judge Lopez discusses his early life; family history; education; practicing law with his father and as an Assistant States’ Attorney; and his career as a judge. Judge Lopez also discusses the importance of a diverse judiciary, and the challenges that confront judges in regards to maintaining an impartial court.
Judge Patricia Mendoza
Judge Patricia Mendoza was elected an Associate Judge by the Circuit Judges of Cook County in 2005, and reappointed in 2011. From 2005-2006 she served the Circuit Court in the First Municipal District, Traffic Court. From 2006-2011 she served the Circuit Court, Juvenile Justice Division. Prior to becoming a Judge, Mendoza practiced law from 1984-2005, heading up the Civil Rights Bureau for the Illinois Attorney General, working as the Regional Counsel for the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and as an attorney for the Chicago Board of Education, ACLU, and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago. In this oral history Judge Mendoza discusses her family history; education; career as a lawyer; and the process of becoming a judge.
The short biographies above are based on the oral histories and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, Judicial Directory of State Judges in Chicago, Sixth Edition, and Ninth Edition.
Audios
Loyola Oral History - Audio
Documents
Loyola Oral History - Documents