Jeanne Marie Wrenn
Jeanne Marie Wrenn

Name: Jeanne Marie Wrenn

Age: 46

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Chicago

Current position: Cook County circuit judge, appointed Feb. 7, 2018

Past legal experience with years of each job: Senior director, general counsel & ethics officer, National Safety Council, 2015-17; ethics & EEO officer, PACE, The Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transit Authority, 2012-15; Cook County assistant state’s attorney, 2003-12; judicial law clerk to Circuit Judge Michael J. Hogan, Law Division, 2003

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $92,447

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $79,460.15

Law school: Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2000

Campaign website: jeannewrenn.com

Family: daughter, Delia Catherine Ritchie, a sophomore in college

Hobbies/interests: Currently, I serve on the following boards: Misericordia, Women’s Auxiliary Board; Trinity Irish Dance Company, Concern Worldwide Leadership Network, St. Ignatius College Prep Board of Regents and I volunteer for One Million Degrees, ABC Pilsen and St. Ignatius Parish. I jumped into Lake Michigan for the third year in a row for Special Olympics at the Polar Plunge. Other than that, I enjoy working out at Orange Theory Fitness aka OTF ChiEdge, running along Lake Michigan, coaching, mentoring, volunteering and cheering on my beloved Ramblers.

Have you ever run for office before?

I am a first-time candidate.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I have robust legal experience including civil, criminal and legislative matters and I have been an active member of my community. My career started as an assistant state’s attorney where I acquired extensive trial and legislative experience. Next, I served as the ethics and EEO officer for Pace, the Suburban Bus Company. Recently, I served as senior director, general counsel and ethics officer for The National Safety Council. The depth and diversity of my legal experience coupled with my civic engagement; I believe, make me an ideal candidate to serve as a judge.

Why do you want to be a judge?

My career has been devoted to public service and safety. My parents and my Jesuit education — from grammar school through law school — instilled within me a strong desire to be a person for and with others and I feel becoming a judge provides me with the best catalyst to do that at this stage of my career. I understand that citizens enter the court system during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives and every person deserves a chance to be heard and have their day in court. I believe my personal and professional experiences have prepared me to be the person who will understand that vulnerability and provide every individual with the equal treatment, tempered with compassion that they deserve.

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

Prior to attending law school, I was a paralegal for William J. Harte, an absolute legend in Illinois law — I had no idea the depth and diversity of his practice until years later when I started law school, for example, he handled cases from class actions to representing Muhammad Ali. As an assistant state’s attorney appearing on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois was a privilege and an honor every day, in every case. A case that stands out: I was part a trial team that prosecuted a domestic violence case; wherein, the defendant brutally attacked his wife at her place of work. When the jury delivered the guilty verdict it was the first time I saw the victim ever appear to feel safe. Throughout my career I handled many internal and joint agency investigations with the utmost integrity and confidentiality. In my role as general counsel, I did my best to help guide our business decisions while protecting our brand and materials, and above all else avoiding litigation.

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

I am extremely proud of my accomplishments in Springfield. During my tenure at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, under my leadership, our team was able to pass The Illinois Safe Children’s Act, a state RICO statute, the Offender Initiative Probation statute, the Valadez Law and several other pieces of legislation that protect the citizens of Illinois. As an ethics officer, I drafted ethics codes and created ethics training for my last two employers. But actually, my greatest career accomplishment might be working full time while attending law school at night, and giving birth to my daughter between my first and second semester in law school.

What qualities do you plan to bring to the bench?

Patience, perspective, a good disposition, an even keeled temperament, a strong faith, a sense of humor and a lot of humility!