Mable Taylor
Mable Taylor

Name: Mable Taylor

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Cook County

Current position and employer: Private practice

Past legal experience: I have over 40 years of civil and criminal legal experience, including 23 years in private practice, 21 years as an arbitrator for the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program, six years as a law editor at a well-respected publishing house and 13 years as an adjunct professor and volunteer attorney.

I have also worked on several community boards and participated in several non-profit organizations. In addition, I have spent numerous years championing civil rights causes, including equal rights for members of the LGBT community and justice for all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Moreover, I have a vast experience working alone and in a team environment with other attorneys.

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

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

Law school, year graduated: I graduated from DePaul University College of Law in 1975.

Campaign website: mabletaylor4judge.com

Family: I have four beautiful and talented adult children — three sons and one daughter.

Hobbies/interests: In my spare time, I enjoy the following interests/hobbies: photography, karate, playing the guitar, sewing, cooking and interior decorating.

Have you ever run for office before?

Yes, I ran for judge and state representative.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I believe that voters should support my candidacy for circuit court judge, not solely because of my advanced education, diverse legal experience, or deep understanding and respect for the law, rather I believe they should support my quest to become a Cook County judge because of my strong sense of justice and fairness and my rational, non-biased view of the world.

One of my strongest assets is that I can be trusted, without a doubt, to follow the law and protect the citizens of Cook County, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

My goal is to use my values of integrity, improvement and impartiality to secure justice for Cook County’s citizens. In fact, during my last two decades, as a private practice attorney, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that Cook County’s residents receive the rights and freedoms they are entitled to as American citizens.

Why do you want to be a judge?

I want to be a judge because I feel that I have amassed the diverse legal experience and judicial characteristics, traits and skills needed to become a highly-effective jurist.

Although I have run for circuit judge in the past, I strongly believe that I am more equipped than ever to handle the new and challenging responsibilities of becoming Cook County’s next circuit court judge.

In fact, I welcome the opportunity, as a Cook County judge, to ensure the integrity and impartiality of our judiciary system.

I find the new changes that have been implemented, over the last few years, to improve the judicial process in Cook County inspiring. I want to be a part of these innovative changes, so that is why I want to be Cook County’s next circuit court judge.

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

The most interesting case I’ve handled as a lawyer is the Crane High School murder case, involving a 15-year-old boy who had been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of an 18-year-old male. The victim was gunned down outside of Crane High School.

I represented the defendant, a 15-year-old boy with no prior record. This case highlighted the ever-increasing violence and gang activity that is slowly destroying Cook Country’s youth.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

My law degree provided me the opportunity to be a public servant to assist people who cannot afford legal counsel; teaching classes for Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers at Cook County Jail (CLAIM) so that they could understand their cases; working with First Defense Legal Aid’s 24-hour assistance, going to the police stations providing legal counsel to individuals who were charged with a felony making sure their constitution rights were not being violated; volunteering with the Foreclosure Medication Program, assisting people obtain mortgage modifications; volunteering at the Dorothy Brown Expungement Summit, assisting people to expunge their records; providing legal internships to senior law students; volunteering to judge moot trials and moot court competitions.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

Aside from my 40 years of legal experience, 21 of which have been in private practice, 19 of which have been as an arbitrator and adjunct professor, the judicial qualities that I would bring to the bench include: a sound intellect, a tolerance that comes from maturity and diverse experiences, a keen analytical ability, fairness, patience, impartiality, the ability to make wise decisions, exemplary organizational skills, sensitivity to the needs of others, a caring demeanor and the ability to actively listen.

I possess both a wisdom and “balance,” which I believe are qualities that are essential for an effective judge. In addition, my personal experiences as a parent, daughter, community participant, congregational member, friend and advocate have given me the patience and understanding needed to listen to, and really understand and appreciate the challenges that people face. I am a consummate researcher that stays abreast of the new developments in the law which is essential for judges.