Michael Hayes
Name: Michael Hayes
Party: Democratic
Age: 51
Current residence: Chicago
Current position: Police officer; Chicago Police Department
Past legal experience: Law instructor, Chicago Police Department, 2008-present; Cook County arbitrator, 2009-present; sole practitioner, 2006- present; Cook County assistant state’s attorney, 2003-06; Legal Officer I, Chicago Police Department, 2002-03
Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $10,778.91
Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $5,155.94
Law school: The John Marshall Law School, 2002
Campaign website: HayesForJudge.com
Family: Kari Hayes (wife), twins Daniel Hayes (son) and Sydney Hayes (daughter), Brendan Hayes (son)
Hobbies/interests: Keeping up with my three kids, running marathons, reading, baseball, traveling and learning other cultures, sampling whiskeys
Have you ever run for office before?
No.
Why should voters support your candidacy?
I am a public servant at heart and action. I have seen both sides of the judicial system, and my experience allows me to remain objective yet ensure individuals are treated fairly, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability or sexual orientation under the laws of this state and United States Constitution.
Why do you want to be a judge?
I am passionate about civil rights and ensuring everyone receives a fair evaluation of their situation and position. I’ve worked tirelessly to improve the way the Chicago Police Department manages the way in which they interact with the community. I continue to focus on ensuring officers respect the power and authority entrusted by the community and to hold themselves to the high professional standards. As a judge, I would be in a position to continue to enforce those standards.
What was the most interesting case you handled as a lawyer?
When working as an assistant Cook County state’s attorney, I was the first chair of a DUI courtroom. We had accepted a plea for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and sentenced the indigent defendant to Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP). As most cases go, all in the courtroom expected the subject, in the time allowed, to complete the ordered days of SWAP and return to the courtroom. However, when the defendant appeared in court and was asked if he completed the days of SWAP, he bravely said “No.” I say “bravely” because my experience as a police officer is most people are afraid of court and the punishment related to defying a judge’s order — going to jail. Most people would rather avoid the court and hope it goes away. And as a former police officer, I know it never goes away. When presented with this information, instead of the judge punishing the defendant for not following his order, he asked why he did not complete the days of SWAP. The defendant explained he did not have the money to pay to do the days of SWAP. The judge was unaware of the raised cost related to SWAP, and given the sincerity of the defendant’s desire to atone, the judge worked with the sheriff’s office to create a workable alternative to SWAP. The defendant was very grateful to the judge for seeing his desire to pay his debt and working within his financial capabilities.
What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
Providing guidance to the the Chicago Police Department related to the First and Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Directing change in the requirements necessary to temporarily detain citizens while investigating criminal conduct. Instructing officers on the rules of evidence and leading training for tactics and responses to crowd control prior to NATO summit in 2012.
What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?
A researched understanding and continued evaluation of how implicit bias plays a role in the executive decision process. My years as a police officer, making life-changing decisions usually in stressful situations, have taught me to put my biases aside and look for objective measures to base my decisions. Most recently, I have instructed Chicago police officers to look for those same objective standards when deciding to conduct an Investigator stop of a subject. In the last published report of investigatory stops by the American Civil Liberties Union and the independent consultant, they found the Chicago Police Department investigatory stops in the first six months, after Fourth Amendment training I lead, went from just under 50 percent to 94 percent compliant with the Fourth Amendment.