Jill Rose Quinn has an extensive legal background in the private sector. She has a lifelong dedication to community service. After graduating from The John Marshall Law School in 1983, she worked for small law firms including one in which she represented local government units. Throughout her career, she handled over 4,000 cases and performed appellate work. Jill started her own practice in 1997 and focused on helping neighborhood residents with financial challenges, family law matters, small business operations, probate and criminal law. Throughout her life Jill has believed in giving back to others. Before moving to Chicago, she was a community organizer in economically disadvantaged areas in Houston and Des Moines and helped form neighborhood action groups dedicated solving problems such as lack of zoning and dangerous traffic, as well as addressing utility and taxation issues. Her compassion for others and sense of fairness is what helped inspire Jill to practice law. As a child, she realized that many people were not treated equally under the law because of their race, religion or nationality. Jill decided then that she wanted to be a lawyer to fight for all people’s rights and equality. Being transgender has taught Jill firsthand what it is like to be marginalized and the vital importance of treating all people with fairness, decency and compassion. In November of 2020, Jill was elected to the office of Cook County Circuit Court Judge. She is the first openly transgender circuit court judge in the State of Illinois and the first openly transgender elected official in the State of Illinois. She is currently serving in the Traffic Division, Municipal Department. Her perspective as a member of the transgender community and as a sole practitioner brings a unique dimension to the Cook County Bench.
Judge Jill Rose Quinn
Nuts & Bolts Academy for Judicial Candidates