Edward J. Underhill

Name: Edward J. Underhill

Age: 59

Current residence: Chicago

Current position: Shareholder/vice president, Masuda Funai Eifert & Mitchell Ltd.

Past legal experience: I have been an attorney with my current firm for more than 30 years. The primary focus of my practice has been commercial litigation in the circuit and appellate courts. But I have also handled a fair amount of criminal defense and probate matters. I was briefly an assistant state’s attorney in DeKalb County under a 711 license.

Law school: Northern Illinois University College of Law, 1984

Campaign website: edunderhillforjudge.com

Family: Married to Liam Nolan

Hobbies/interests: Fiction writing (primarily plays and short stories); running; Chicago history.

Have you ever run for office before?

Yes, I ran unsuccessfully for judge in 2016.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

Because I have the broadest base of legal experience of any of the candidates in my race, having practiced in both the civil and criminal courts of Cook County, as well as in the Illinois Appellate Court. I also have the best overall bar ratings of any candidate in my race. I am a family man who has made a serious commitment to my community through extensive civic and pro bono work.

Why do you want to be a judge?

As a gay man who only gained the right to get married in the State of Illinois in 2014 (and who married his longtime partner as soon as it was legal), I want to make sure our state court remains a strong independent protector of everyone’s Constitutional and civil rights. I also think my experiences as an attorney and as a longtime resident of Chicago give me the insight, training and appreciation for the law needed to be a judge.

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

I have handled many satisfying cases where I was able to obtain a favorable settlement for an individual client despite various legal hurdles — those types of cases are always interesting because of the challenges involved in representing individuals who don’t always know how to protect their legal rights before engaging an attorney. But the most interesting case I handled was my successful defense of copyright-infringement claims made in a federal court case I handled several years ago — a case that almost made it to the United States Supreme Court. That case had interesting personalities, exceptional lawyering on the other side, a thoughtful, practical judge and complex substantive and procedural issues.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

That I have been able to build and maintain a successful law practice over 30 years while still maintaining, for the most part, a life-work-community balance.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

Integrity, a strong work ethic; extensive organizational and time management skills; a deep understanding of court procedure and practice, and a willingness to learn and listen.