Name: Vincent Fitzgerald Cornelius

Age: 54

Political party: Democrat

Town where you currently reside: Naperville

Marital status: Married for 27 years

Children: Two adult children

Office sought: Circuit judge of Will County

Occupation (employer): The Law Office of Vincent F. Cornelius, founded in 1995

Education: NIU College of Law, Juris Doctor; University of St. Francis, BBA in Business Administration; Joliet Catholic High School

Elected offices held: None

Website: votevince4judge.com

Facebook: facebook.com/VoteVincentFCorneliusforJudge

Email: corneliusforjudge@gmail.com

Phone (for possible constituents to call): (815) 724-0929

1) Why are you running for the elected office you’re seeking?

This is a very consequential time for the Will County judicial system. A new courthouse is under construction. A flurry of retirements is changing the face of the judiciary in ways that will resonate for decades to come. At this very consequential time, I have a strong desire to bring to the Will County judiciary the wealth of experience I have gained as a successful trial lawyer, businessman, leader of the legal profession and community leader.

2) What skills, qualities or experience do you have that separate you from your opponents?

In a 2018 Illinois State Bar Association poll of Will County lawyers and judges, I was rated higher than my opponent in seven of the eight categories. I have been a trial lawyer for 28 years, earning a reputation for excellence in courtroom presentation throughout the region. I am a former assistant state’s attorney, who prosecuted thousands of cases on behalf of crime victims.

As the only lawyer in Illinois history to serve as the president of the Illinois State Bar Association, as chancellor of the Academy of Illinois Lawyers and as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation, I have earned a reputation for being a strong leader, who is fair, trusted and decisive. In the year 2018, I was recognized by Super lawyers, Leading Lawyers and Best lawyers in America.

As a husband, father, leader and 40-year resident of Will County, I understand the depth and breadth of the issues of our very large, populous and diverse county.

3) What are the greatest challenges facing Will County and/or your specific district in the coming years?

The court system is confronted with a question of public confidence. This is rooted in two issues in particular, access and consistency.

There is a growing dilemma of inadequate access to legal representation and inadequate access to useful information about the legal issues confronting Will County citizens. Too often, this results in dire consequences for the less fortunate, for those suffering from mental illness and addiction, and for our veterans. The problem is rooted in insufficient resources and the lack of access to affordable representation.

It also is difficult for the general public to have confidence in the courts if cases are not resolved with consistency. Consistency is the hallmark of fairness, and consistency is how citizens measure fairness. There are few mechanisms to discourage a judge from treating two people who are similarly situated in very different ways. This is the complaint I have heard most as a trial lawyer. The issues of access and public confidence must be addressed strategically in the coming years.

4) If elected, what will be your top three priorities?

Elected circuit judges have the responsibility of selecting the associate or non-elected judges, by a majority vote. As an elected circuit judge, It will be a priority for me to select associate judges who are well known for their excellence in the courtroom, even temperament and fairness in their dealings with others.

I will also make it a priority to be an influence on the Will County judiciary in emerging as a 21st century example in technology, judicial philosophy, efficiency and public confidence.

Finally, I will make it a priority to be a judge who is knowledgeable, sensitive to people and issues, and bent toward fairness at all times.