Mr. deCastro is a first-generation Cuban American. He grew up in a Spanish-Speaking household. Spanish was his first language, and much of his work as a lawyer has been for non-English speaking clients. His parents came to this country from Cuba when they were only 18 and 21 years old. They worked hard to put themselves through school, and they reached back to help other family members and their broader community. Mr. deCastro was raised to respect hard work, education, and the need to always keep an eye on what serves the public good.

From the beginning of his legal career, while still in law school, Mr. deCastro served on the board of the schools’ Public Interest Law Foundation and volunteered to represent immigrants detained in Louisianna penitentiaries. After law school he began his career at the Cook Conty Public Defender’s Office. For the past ten years he has dedicated most of his time to public defender work through the Federal Public Defender’s panel attorney program, and by volunteering to do pro-bono work for incarcerated individuals through a federal court program run by the Chicago Lawyer’s Committee For Civil Rights.

As an attorney Mr. deCastro has shown a dedication to the defense of due process, individual rights and access to justice. He looks forward to a career as a judge, where he hopes to ensure the protection of individual rights and equal access to the courts in a new role.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.decastroforjudge.com

Judge Corinne C. Heggie was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge to fill the At-Large vacancy of the Honorable Vincent M. Gaughan. She is assigned to the traffic division where she has been presiding over a variety of court rooms since June 2023.

Judge Heggie brings 21 years of civil litigation with her to the bench. She practiced with a large national law firm, 8 years of which were as a partner. She practiced at the largest majority women owned firm in Chicago. Before Judge Heggie’s appointment, she was the owner of a suburban civil practice. This experience is why she was found qualified by all bar associations and Highly Qualified by the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Greater Chicago, and the Hispanic Lawyers’ Association of Illinois.

Judge Heggie has been a contributor and leader in numerous legal and bar associations. She is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. She wrote a column for the Daily Herald, “Estates Made Easy,” and has presented on WGN Radio’s “Let’s Get Legal.” She focused her columns and radio presentations on educating people about how laws can help them. For instance, Judge Heggie discussed transfer of death deeds, the difference between a will and a trust, and the benefits of both wills and trusts. Judge Heggie is on the Dean’s Advisory Council for DePaul University College of Law and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s Advisory Council on Bullying in the Legal Profession.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.corinneheggieforjudge.com

After attending law school at John Marshall, Judge Johnson began a career as a civil trial attorney, primarily representing nurses, physicians and health care facilities in cases alleging medical negligence. In addition to trying over 50 cases to civil jury verdict, Judge Johnson served her community through various organizations, including the Misericordia Womens’ Board, Mercy Home, and tutoring students in the Englewood area with Lawyers Lend a Hand.

Judge Johnson’s desire to do more for her community led her to make the decision to join the judiciary. She was appointed to the bench by Justice Joy V. Cunningham with unanimous approval of the entire Supreme Court of Illinois. Based on interviews with attorneys who worked alongside as well as against Judge Johnson, and an interview with Judge Johnson, every bar association found Judge Johnson to be qualified/recommended or highly qualified/highly recommended to serve as a judge. Judge Johnson currently sits in the First Municipal District where she hears civil matters under $50,000 and promotes judicial access for all litigants, including those who are self-represented. Judge Johnson will be running to maintain her position of Circuit Court Judge in the March 19, 2024 primaries.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgesarahjohnson.com

Judge Deidre M. Dyer was appointed to the bench on March 30, 2023. She is currently assigned to the First Municipal, Traffic Division. Prior to her appointment, she was Deputy Supervisor of Financial Crimes, Public Corruption, Money Laundering and both civil and criminal Consumer Fraud for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. In 2020 the National Insurance Crime Bureau awarded her Prosecutor Partner of the year award. She was also chair of the Government and Insurance Fraud Work Group within the Cook County Regional Organized Crime Taskforce. Judge Dyer was previously an Illinois Assistant Attorney General in the Special Prosecutions Bureau and Supervising Regional Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Office of Legal Services. She is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law, and she has her B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University, as well as a certificate of study from the University of Paris – la Sorbonne.

Judge Dyer is active in various local bar associations, including the Chicago Bar Association where she co-chairs the Wellbeing and Mindfulness Committee. She is a 2023 Cook County Bar Association Judicial Award Winner. Outside of her legal work activities and associations, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. and a proud mother. She is fluent in French and enjoys sewing, jewelry design, digital art, swimming, and gardening.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgedeidredyer.com

Judge Arlene Y. Coleman Romeo was appointed by unanimous vote of the Illinois Supreme Court to the judicial vacancy of Retired Judge Marcia Maras on September 16, 2022. Currently, she is assigned to the First Municipal District where she presides over Small Claims, Consumer Debt and Non-Jury Trials.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Coleman Romeo was Principle in the law firm of A.Y. Coleman & Associates from 1996 until 2022. She was a Managing Member in the law firm of Coleman & Brown, LLC from 2007-2017. From 1987-1996, Coleman Romeo was a senior litigation associate with the law firm of Witwer, Poltrock & Giampietro where she practiced union-side Labor law representing members of the Chicago Teachers Union, Insurance defense, Employment & Probate law.

As a native Chicagoan, Judge Coleman Romeo attended Chicago Public Schools and graduated from Lindblom Technical High School. She attended Spelman College in Atlanta Georgia, graduating with honors. Coleman Romeo is a 1986 graduate of IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Judge Colman Romeo was admitted to the State of Illinois Supreme Court in May of 1987. Additionally, she is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit of Appeals.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgecolemanromeo.com

Judge Neil Cohen has been a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County for 14 years. In September of 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court elevated him from Associate Judge to Full Circuit Court Judge.

Judge Cohen has been assigned to the General Division since 2011, where he presides over cases dealing with injunctions, business litigation, class actions, trusts, receiverships and administrative reviews.

Judge Cohen has been found qualified or recommended to serve as a judge by all bar associations.

Judge Cohen is a current member of several of the Illinois Supreme Court’s committees, including the Court’s Committee on Judicial Education, Advance Judicial Academy, New Judges Education Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a member of the Court’s Historic Preservation Commission.

In the past, Judge Cohen has served as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Executive Committee and Strategic Planning Committee.

In addition, Judge Cohen has taught criminal law and procedure and lectured on 4th Amendment issues as an Adjunct Professor at IIT Chicago-Kent School of Law.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgeneilcohen.com

Judge Edward Joseph Underhill is a longtime champion for equality who was appointed to the bench in 2023 by unanimous vote of the Illinois Supreme Court. He has a wide range of life and legal experience – and positive ratings from all bar associations which have evaluated him.

Judge Underhill grew up on the Southwest side of Chicago, the youngest of five. His father was a Marine in World War II, and then worked as a phone company lineman and a proud union member. Judge Underhill graduated from Bogan High School and put himself through college and law school at Northern Illinois University by holding down many part-time jobs. These included working as a reporter for the university newspaper, the county newspaper, and the Rockford newspaper.

Judge Underhill returned to Chicago upon graduating from law school, joining the Law Firm of Masuda Funai, a well-regarded firm that primarily represented the Japanese American community. Ed began his practice as a civil litigator working in the state and federal courts of northern Illinois. His practice included probate, civil litigation, limited criminal defense, and business disputes. Judge Underhill became an expert in the area of contract and commercial law, and wrote articles on important legal issues for the Illinois Bar Journal.

Judge Underhill tried bench and jury trials throughout the United States over his 30+ years of practicing law. Ed was admitted to the prestigious federal trial bar and to practice before the US Supreme Court.

Judge Underhill was and continues to be an active leader in the LGBTQ+ community. Before Illinois law recognized LGBTQ+ rights and gay marriage, Judge Underhill regularly advised gay individuals and couples on protecting their legal rights, especially in the estate-planning area. Ed has been a long-standing member of the Illinois State Treasurer’s Advisory Council representing the LGBTQ+ community. He has also served on important service committees of the Chicago Bar Association and LAGBAC, the bar association representing Chicagoland’s gay community.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgeunderhill.com

Judge Debjani Desai is the proud daughter of immigrants and a first generation lawyer. She was taught the spirit of service and hard work from her family and made the decision early on to devote her entire career to public service. She has proudly and compassionately served the underserved and underprivileged her entire career. When practicing as a lawyer, she zealously advocated for victims, elderly, indigent, disabled, and vulnerable individuals. Now, as a judge, she strives for equal justice for all, and ensures that anyone that comes into her courtroom gets a fair shot.

Judge Desai was appointed as a Cook County Judge upon the recommendation of Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and by unanimous vote of the Illinois Supreme Court. She has been found Highly Qualified by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Well-Qualified by the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and Qualified and Recommended by all other evaluating bar associations.

Judge Desai previously served as General Counsel for the Illinois Office of Comptroller, where she provided legal counsel on state comptroller mandates, such as ordering payments through the treasury, managing the state’s fiscal accounts, and conducting audits and reports on the state’s fiscal health.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.judgedesai.com

Jennifer Callahan has been an attorney for over 17 years and has experience in criminal, civil, and transactional law, including serving as an Administrative Law Judge. She has litigated motions, bench and jury trials in court rooms throughout Cook County.

Some of Jennifer’s most meaningful work as an attorney has been in the specialty courts, including mental health, veteran’s and drug treatment courts. This work gave her the opportunity to help provide people with real solutions to rebuild their lives.

She has been found Qualified or Recommended by all of the reviewing bar associations

Jennifer grew up in Worth Township and now lives on the city’s northwest side with her husband, a military reservist, and 5 daughters. She is an active member of her ward organization and parish community. Jennifer particularly enjoys volunteering as a youth sports coach for her daughters’ teams.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.callahanforjudge.com

Judge James Murphy-Aguilú was unanimously appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court and sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham. Judge Murphy-Aguilú was well regarded for the diversity of his legal practice. Judge Murphy-Aguilú spent most of his legal career litigating criminal and civil rights cases in both state and federal court. Judge Murphy-Aguilú transitioned into government oversight first reviewing incidents of police misconduct including use of force, officer involved shootings and in custody deaths with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Judge Murphy-Aguilú served as a Deputy Chief when he was asked to lead a team of investigators created to investigate civilian and police encounters in the days following the murder of George Floyd.

Judge Murphy-Aguilú took a position as the Inspector General for the Clerk of the Circuit Court in January of 2021 where he transformed the office through accreditation from the National Association of Inspectors General. Prior to his appointment, Judge Murphy-Aguilú served as the Chief of Staff for the Clerk of the Circuit Court where he worked hand in hand with stakeholders like the office of the Cook County Board president, Cook County State’s Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff and Chief Judges office along with the legal aid community to improve court services.

Judge Murphy-Aguilú was recommended and qualified by every bar association. The Chicago Bar Association found Judge Murphy-Aguilú was “well-regarded for his legal experience, diligence and calm demeanor.”

To learn more or get involved: https://www.jmaforjudge.com

A judge, wife, and mother with over 16 years of courtroom litigation experience.

In May, 2023, Judge Chloé G. Pedersen was appointed to a countywide judicial vacancy by unanimous appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court. She seeks election to this vacancy.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Chloé was an equity partner with the national law firm of Fletcher & Sippel LLC. There, she managed the Labor & Employment Practice Group focusing on complex civil litigation and represented clients in a full range of labor and employment matters in state, federal and appellate courts across the country. In addition to litigation advocacy, she represented clients in collective bargaining negotiations and served on various public law boards adjudicating claims.

Prior to, she was Chief Legal & Labor Counsel for the Cook County Recorder. Here, Judge Chloé advised on litigation along with the Cook County State’s Attorney, and counseled on the development and enforcement of office policy, legislative platforms, and participated in collective bargaining negotiations. Judge Chloé previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General’s Government Representation Division providing legal representation to Illinois (its agencies, officers and employees) in civil litigation focusing on civil rights and labor and employment issues.

To learn more or get involved: https://www.chloeforjudge.com