Thomas R. Chiola
Thomas R. Chiola | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from the 8th Subcircuit | |
| In office 1994–2009 | |
| Succeeded by | Celia G. Gamrath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1952 |
| Alma mater | Illinois State University (BS) University of Illinois (JD) |
Thomas R. Chiola (born March 18, 1952) served as a judge of the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County from 1994 to 2009. He was the first openly gay person elected to public office in Illinois.[1]
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Chiola grew up in Springfield, Illinois.[2] He graduated from Springfield's Griffin High School (now Sacred Heart-Griffin High School) in 1970. Chiola then received a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1977.[3] He served as an administrative law judge.[4] He also served as general counsel of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.[5]
Judicial service
[edit | edit source]In 1994, Chiola was elected to the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County.[6][7] Chiola was the first openly gay candidate elected to any federal, state, county or municipal office in Illinois.[6][7]
Honors
[edit | edit source]In 1997, Chiola was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.[8]
See also
[edit | edit source]- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Illinois
- List of LGBT jurists in the United States
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Byron Flitsch, History-making gay judge set to retire, Windy City Times (January 6, 2010).
- ^ Neal Pollack, In and Out, Chicago Reader (August 18, 1994).
- ^ Thomas R. Chiola - Lawyer Profile, Martindale.
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- ^ a b Steve Schmadeke, Gay, lesbian judges in Cook County note their progress, Chicago Tribune (December 6, 2009).
- ^ a b Joan Biskupic, Amid debate over rights, number of gay judges rising, USA Today (October 17, 2006).
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