Mary Alice Melchor

Name: Mary Alice Melchor

Age: 67

Current residence: Chicago

Current position: Inspector general, Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 2005-present

Past legal experience: Associate, Hammond & Flynn, 1992-93; senior attorney, Chicago Housing Authority, 1994-98; associate, Meacham Spahr Postel & Cozzi, 1998-2000; chief deputy circuit clerk at Maywood courthouse, 2002-03; associate clerk of the circuit court, covering Chancery, County, Law and Probate Divisions, 2003-05; private attorney specializing in real estate law, family law, and probate law 1993-99, 2000-02

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $5,985.93

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $2,123.91

Law school: IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1992

Campaign website: marymelchorforjudge.com

Family: Widow

Hobbies/interests: Volunteering with senior citizens; church activities

Have you ever run for office before?

Yes, for Cook County circuit judge in 2014.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I stand for fairness and equal justice for all. I have been a lawyer for over 25 years and I have been a proven bar association leader during those years striving to promote equality and diversity: serving as an officer or board member of Black Women Lawyers’ Association since 1997; serving on the board of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, serving as treasurer of the Women’s Bar Foundation since 2006, managing over $1.5 million in assets; serving the National Bar Association as the treasurer of the Region VII area (Illinois, Indiana, & Wisconsin); and an active member in the American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Association. I have had experiences in many other areas: served as a Special Education teacher in the Chicago Public Schools for twelve years; owned and operated an insurance business (10 years) and a structural pest control business (25 years); and served in my church for over 40 years. I have served the public in various capacities all of my adult life and will continue to equitably serve all the citizens of Cook County as a judge!

Why do you want to be a judge?

I want to be judge because I believe in fairness and justice for all. All of our constituents should be able to come to court and have their sides heard and a fair decision made according to the applicable law.

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

A Law Division case in which a commercial worker was injured when metal pieces fell on him while he was unloading them from a truck. It was my firm’s position that the truck had been loaded improperly days before it arrived and caused the injury to our client.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

To have served the citizens of Cook County in various capacities as an officer of the court, then as primary supervising person to assist them in court, and now as inspector general.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

I will bring honesty, humility, compassion, a strong work ethic, and a variety of experiences of having worked with the public which will aid in my role as a judge.