Preston Jones Jr.

Name: Preston Jones Jr.

Age: 48

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Oak Park

Current position: Cook County circuit judge, appointed by Illinois Supreme Court effective Sept. 25, 2017

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

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $70,322.66

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $56,680.33

Law school: University of Illinois College of Law, 1994

Campaign website: prestonjonesforjudge.com

Family: Four children (graduate school, high school, middle school, and preschool)

Hobbies/interests: I coach AYSO VIP soccer for special-needs children in Oak Park in the fall and spring, and I have played basketball every week with the same group of guys for almost 20 years.

Have you ever run for office before?

No.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I have been lead counsel on dozens of bench and jury trials including death-penalty cases. I spent the last 13 years as a member of Homicide Task Force handling only murder cases. I have been found “Highly Qualified” by The Chicago Bar Association because of my “outstanding temperament” as well as my experience and knowledge.

Why do you want to be a judge?

I have been a public servant my entire career. I love being a judge and being able to help people in a new and challenging capacity.

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

I was part of the trial team for Brown’s Chicken, which was one of the most complex criminal cases in Cook County history. I deposed dozens of people as part of the discovery phase (we were granted leave because it was a death penalty case). We lost the guilt/innocence phase but saved our client from the death penalty.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

Being appointed to the bench after being vetted by the Illinois Supreme Court has been my greatest honor, but knowing that I did my best by each of my clients is my greatest accomplishment.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

I bring compassion, integrity, fairness, knowledge, patience and experience to the bench. My years in the courtroom have taught me how to manage a court call and how to treat all those who come before me with respect. I know the law and how to apply it with fairness and compassion.