PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Judge Evans appoints Judge Raymond L. Jagielski as Presiding Judge of the Fifth Municipal District
Released On 03/31/2011
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today announced the appointment of Circuit Judge Raymond L. Jagielski as Presiding Judge of the court’s southwest suburban Fifth Municipal District. The appointment is effective April 15, 2011.
Judge Jagielski will replace current Fifth Municipal District Presiding Judge David P. Sterba, whose elevation to the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, is also effective April 15, 2011.
Chief Judge Evans said, "Judge Jagielski is well respected for his interest and success in helping to improve the way the court operates in every assignment in which he has served. I believe Ray’s management experience and people skills, along with his broad legal expertise encompassing civil and criminal matters, will serve the court well."
A nineteen year veteran of the Cook County bench, Judge Jagielski was first elected a Circuit Judge from the 14th Judicial Subcircuit in 1992. He was initially assigned to the Traffic Section of the First Municipal District where he heard driving under the influence and misdemeanor cases. While assigned to that section, he updated and rewrote the judge’s jury trial book for driving under the influence cases. In 1995, he was assigned to the County Division where he presided over a real estate tax deed assignment call, as well as adoption, mental health and election cases. While serving in that division, he wrote the judge’s jury trial book for involuntary admissions and/or involuntary administration of psychotropic medication cases and co-wrote a supplement for the Election Law Book for the Illinois Continuing Legal Education series.
In December 2006, Judge Jagielski was assigned to the Fifth Municipal District where he has served as the Supervising Judge of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Section since June 2010 supervising nine (9) courtrooms and judges. In addition to his supervising duties, he also presides over misdemeanor and traffic cases and had previously presided over felony preliminary hearings. He implemented two court calls in the Bridgeview courthouse to more effectively manage cases which include a reformed Violation of Supervision/Conditional Discharge Call and a Misdemeanor Priority Calendar for all misdemeanor cases more than one year old.
He also served as Acting Presiding Judge in Judge Sterba’s absence and was asked by Judge Sterba to serve as First Alternate Delegate of Authority for the Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP), the emergency/disaster plan of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Judge Jagielski was retained as a Circuit Judge in 1998, 2004, and 2010, and was found Qualified, Recommended or Highly Qualified by all bar associations evaluating judicial candidates in those elections.
Chief Judge Evans noted that Judge Jagielski has long demonstrated a firm commitment to public service and community involvement. Prior to becoming a judge, Judge Jagielski was a teacher and football coach at St. Rita High School from 1976 to 1981. From 1981 to 1988, he served as an assistant public defender in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. From 1989 to 1991, he was a Commissioner of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners (serving as Board Chairman in 1989) while also maintaining a private practice. Immediately prior to his election as a Circuit Judge in 1992, he was an associate with Odelson & Sterk, Ltd., of Evergreen Park, Illinois. He also volunteered as the president of the Archer Manor Little League Association.
Judge Jagielski received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School in 1981 and his B.A. in Political Science from Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1975.
Judge Jagielski said, "I am honored by the trust that Chief Judge Evans is placing in me. I intend to do my best to deserve that trust and to ensure that court operations serve the needs of the residents of the Fifth Municipal District."
