Adrienne Elaine Davis
Adrienne Elaine Davis

Name: Adrienne Elaine Davis

Age: 50

Party: Democratic

Current residence: South Holland

Current position and employer: Cook County circuit judge (Appointed by Supreme Court on March 17, 2017)

Past legal experience with years of each job: N/A

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $30,652.63

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $27,094.09

Campaign website: electjudgeadriennedavis.com

Family: Father is attorney Walton Davis Jr.

Hobbies/interests: I am a member of various religious, civic and service organizations including the Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Lincoln Park Chicago Chapter of the United Negro College Fund.

Have you ever run for office before?

No. I was appointed to the vacancy of Marjorie Laws by the Illinois Supreme Court in March of 2017, and I am running to win the seat to which I was appointed.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I bring to the bench 22 years of legal experience as an attorney in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, with the last eight years in the homicide task force at 26th and California. I have extensive criminal litigation experience and was certified lead counsel qualified by the now-defunct Illinois Capital Trial bar in death penalty litigation.

I am currently working as a judge in the branch courthouse located at 111th and Ellis hearing misdemeanors and felony preliminary hearings, treating all the citizens with compassion, dignity and respect. I have been found “Qualified” or “Recommended” by all bar associations.

Why do you want to be a judge?

After 22 years in the Law Office of the Public Defender, I realized that I have the skills and the knowledge to serve a larger segment of the community than merely my own clients. My years of service have prepared me to provide even great service to the community by becoming the neutral, yet firm and compassionate arbiter of justice.

My years in practice have given me the tools and the wisdom to fairly and compassionately adjudicate issues from either side.

What was the most interesting case you handled as a lawyer?

As a member of the homicide task force, I represented a young man who was charged in the murder of a law enforcement officer. I successfully obtained an offer for my client to testify against the actual shooter and to avoid a death penalty trial. Based on my clients’ testimony the prosecution was able to indict and later convict the actual shooter. My client took an offer which would allow him to come home at some point.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

I consider my greatest career accomplishment the ability to train and mentor young lawyers. While I was an assistant public defender I mentored many young defense attorneys.

As a judge, I mentor and assist many young prosecutors, assistant public defenders and young private defense attorneys. I believe that good, fair judges train lawyers to be good lawyers, and that is what I strive to do every day.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

I bring to the bench years of knowledge as a seasoned attorney. My years of work give me a thorough knowledge of the current law and the energy to keep up the updates and changes to the law. I bring the energy and the technical knowledge to handle the most complicated cases that may ever be brought before me. Finally, I come to the bench with compassion and fairness for all parties who come before me.