Lori Ann Roper

Name: Lori Ann Roper

Age: 52

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Chicago

Current position: Attorney supervisor in charge of the Problem-Solving Courts, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

Past legal experience: Cook County assistant public defender, 23 years

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: No report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: No report filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections

Law school: Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, 1993

Campaign website: electloriroper.com

Family: Newlywed to my husband, Troy. We have five daughters between us.

Hobbies/interests: Reading, Beginner runner, movies, anything sci-fi, cooking

Have you ever run for office before?

No.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

Voters should support my candidacy because I have the experience, knowledge and temperament to be a judge. I am the candidate that will follow the law and constitution, but will look for creative sentencing alternatives for non-violent offenders.

Why do you want to be a judge?

I’ve worked in the criminal justice system for 23 years. I’ve seen how a judge can change the course of someone’s life. I want to use my legal knowledge and life experiences to make positive changes in the lives of people who appear before me.

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

I had an aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle where originally the judge offered my client nine years in Illinois Department of Corrections. Somehow the traffic tickets attached to the case stayed in Traffic Court. His tickets went to trial, he was found guilty, he was sentenced to 90 days. Based on that, I did a motion to dismiss based on double jeopardy. It was granted and his case was dismissed.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

I’ve had a couple. However, it was a case in child protection where my client had her kids removed because she went to a therapist for depression. While her children were in the care of DCFS, they were sexually abused. I was able to reunite her with her children by arguing that the mom was getting back “damaged goods.”

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

My life experiences, common sense and compassion.