Kent Delgado

Name: Kent Delgado

Age: 46

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Chicago

Current position and employer: Cook County circuit judge, appointed Jan. 4, 2017

Past legal experience: Owner, Law Office of Kent A. Delgado, 2007–16; Cook County assistant state’s attorney, 1996-07

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $131,914.58

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $47,251.62

Law school: Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1996

Campaign website: kentdelgado.com

Family: N/A

Hobbies/interests: Traveling, sports, spending time with family

Have you ever run for office before?

No.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I have the experience, temperament and knowledge to be a fair and impartial judge. I have tried thousands of cases and motions over 20 years and have practiced in both criminal and civil law. I pride myself on my reputation for fairness and integrity, an attribute that was acknowledged by the Cook County Bar Association with their 2017 Judicial Award. I earned this reputation as a result of my actions and treatment of others. This commitment to fairness is why I was found highly qualified, qualified or recommended by every reviewing bar association.

Why do you want to be a judge?

I have been dedicated to serving my community, first as an assistant state’s attorney where I represented my community in court and was honored with an award from the Constance Morris House for my work with victims of domestic violence. I then opened my own practice in my own neighborhood and provided assistance to members of the community through pro-bono work and immigration workshops. I feel these experiences informed my decision to pursue this next step in my career and I want to continue serving my community and bringing diversity and respect to the judiciary. I have the experience, intelligence and temperament to provide the people of Cook County a jurist who protects their rights and ensures that everyone is treated equally under the law.

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

A contested probate case that started in guardianship court, then proceeded to descendants court where, before the first testate estate was opened, it required the opening of a second intestate estate after the drowning death of my initial client who had been the guardian and legatee in the first case. The case required hearings in all three contested matters touching on almost all areas of probate law. Multiple areas of medical and mechanical expertise were required to adjudicate all three hearings. It was an emotional case centered on the best interest of a disabled person and eventually focused on the intentions of two deceased individuals and how it would affect their families.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

Building and maintaining my law practice in my neighborhood for ten years. Before becoming a judge, I served the people of my community from my office in the Ukranian Village/Humboldt Park neighborhood. My practice helped to advocate for those in need of a voice — many of whom could not otherwise afford legal representation. Helping people from my neighborhood with a variety of legal issues provided me with a well-rounded base of legal knowledge and was an emotionally rewarding experience.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

I believe my integrity, intelligence, humility, and my commitment to fairness are the qualities that have helped me on the bench.