List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Illinois explained

This is a list of the first minority male lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Illinois. It includes the year in which the men were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are other distinctions such as the first minority men in their state to graduate from law school or become a political figure.

Firsts in state history

Lawyers

• Lloyd Garrison Wheeler (1869):^{[1] [2]} First African American male admitted to the Illinois State Bar. However, he relocated soon after to Arkansas.
• Edward Hong (1941):^[3] First Chinese American male lawyer in Illinois
• Antonio Rosas Sarabia (1950):^[4] First Mexican American male lawyer in Illinois
• Theodore "Ted" Burtzos:^[5] First deaf male lawyer to argue a case before a jury in Illinois

State judges

• Albert B. George:^{[6] [7]} First African American male judge in Illinois (1924)
• Bernard P. Barasa:^[8] First Italian American male judge in Illinois (c. 1920s)
• James K. Chelos:^{[9] [10]} First Greek American male judge in Illinois (1952)
• David Cerda:^[11] First Latino American male judge in Illinois (1965) and serve on the Illinois Appellate Court (1989)
• George N. Leighton (1947):^{[12] [13]} First African American male to serve on the First District Appellate Court in Illinois (1969)
• Joseph H. Goldenhersh

^[14] First Jewish American male to serve on the Supreme Court of Illinois (1970)

• Charles E. Freeman (1962):^{[15] [16] [17]} First African American male to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court (1990) and serve as its Chief Justice
• F. Keith Brown (1981):^{[18] [19]} First African American male judge to serve as a Chief Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District Court (Kane County, Illinois; 1991)
• Thomas R. Chiola (1974):^[20] First openly LGBT male judge in Illinois (1994)
• Sebastian Patti:^{[21] [22]} First openly LGBT male to serve as an appellate court judge in Illinois (1995)
• Theodore "Ted" Burtzos: First deaf male judge in Illinois (1995)
• Kenneth Moy:^{[23] [24]} First Asian American male judge in Illinois (1996)
• Israel Desierto:^[25] First Filipino American male judge in Illinois (2005)
• Lionel Jean-Baptiste:^[26] First Haitian American male judge in Illinois (2011)
• Jesse Reyes (1982):^{[27] [28]} First Latino American male elected as a Judge of the Illinois Appellate Court (2012)
• Rouhy J. Shalabi:^[29] First Palestinian American and Muslim American judge in Illinois (2020)
• Sanjay Tailor:^[30] First Asian American (who is of Indian descent) male to serve as a presiding judge in Illinois (2021). In 2023, Tailor became the first Indian American male to serve as a Judge of the Illinois Appellate Court.^[31]

Federal judges

• James Benton Parsons (1949):^{[32] [33]} First African American male to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1961)
• Alexander J. Napoli

^[34] First Italian American male to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1966)

• George N. Leighton

First Cape Verdean male to serve as a Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1976)

• Joe Billy McDade (1963):^[35] First African American male to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (1991)
• Ruben Castillo (1979):^[36] First Latino American male to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1994)^[37]
• Manuel Barbosa:^[38] First Hispanic American male bankruptcy judge to serve in the U.S. Northern District of Illinois (1998)
• Samuel Der-Yeghiayan (1978):^[39] First Armenian immigrant male to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2003)
• Edmond E. Chang

First Asian American (male) to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2011)

• James Shadid

^[40] First Arab American male to serve on the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (2011)

• John Z. Lee (1992):^[41] First Korean American male to serve on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2012)
• Manish S. Shah (1998):^[42] First Indian American male to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2014)
• Sunil R. Harjani:^[43] First South Asian to serve as a Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2019)
• Franklin U. Valderrama

^[44] First Panamanian American male to serve as a Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2020)

Attorney General

• Roland Burris (1963):^[45] First African American male elected as the Attorney General of Illinois (1991-1995)
• Kwame Raoul

^[46] First Haitian American male elected as the Attorney General of Illinois (2019)

Assistant Attorney General

• James G. Gotter:^[47] First African American male to serve as the Assistant Attorney General of Illinois (1917)

United States Attorney

• Gregory K. Harris:^[48] First African American male to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois (2021)

State's Attorney

• James R. Burgess, Jr.:^[49] First African American male to serve as the State's Attorney in Illinois (1972)

Assistant State's Attorney

• Ferdinand Lee Barnett:^[50] First African American male to serve as an Assistant State's Attorney in Illinois (1896)

Bar Association

• Lawrence X. Pusateri:^[51] First Italian American male to serve as the President of the Illinois State Bar Association (1975)
• Vincent Cornelius:^[52] First African American male to serve as the Illinois State Bar Association (2016)

Firsts in local history

• K. Patrick Yarbrough:^[53] First African American male judge in Boone and Winnebago Counties, Illinois (2008)
• Chester Blair:^[54] First African American male to serve as the President of the Chicago Bar Association [Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois]
• René A. Torrado, Jr.:^[55] First Latino American male to serve as the President of the Chicago Bar Association (1995) [Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois]
• Moses Suarez:^[56] First Latino American male to serve as President of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (2019) [Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois]
• Joe Somers:^[57] First African American male to serve as the Justice of the Peace in Champaign County, Illinois (1961)
• James R. Burgess, Jr.:^[58] First African American male to serve as the State's Attorney of Champaign County, Illinois (1972)
• Richard A. Dawson (1870):^[59] First African American male to graduate from the University of Chicago's law department
• Cecil A. Partee:^[60] First African American male to serve as the State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois
• James K. Chelos:^[61] First Greek American male elected as a judge in Cook County, Illinois (1952)
• James Benton Parsons (1949): First African American male to serve as a Judge of the Superior Court of Cook County, Illinois (1959
• William J. Haddad:^{[62] [63]} First Arab American male to serve as a Judge (2003) and Chief Judge (2023) of the Circuit Court in Cook County, Illinois
• Israel Desierto: First Filipino American male to serve as an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (2005)
• Sanjay Tailor:^[64] First Indian American male appointed as an Associate Judge in Cook County, Illinois
• Edmund Ponce de Leon:^[65] First Hispanic American male to serve as the Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (2010)
• Kenneth Moy: First Asian American male appointed as Judge of the DuPage County Circuit Court (1996)
• Charles Willner (1876):^[66] First Jewish male lawyer in Burlington, Illinois [<nowiki/>[[Kane County, Illinois]]]
• F. Keith Brown (1981): First African American male judge and Chief Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District (Kane County, Illinois; 1991)
• John Dalton:^[67] First openly LGBT male judge in Kane County, Illinois (2012)
• Rene Cruz:^[68] First Hispanic American male to serve as an associate judge in Kane County, Illinois (2012)
• George Bridges (1987):^{[69] [70]} First African American male judge in Lake County, Illinois
• Jorge L. Ortiz (1989):^[71] First Hispanic American male judge in Lake County, Illinois (2002) and first Chief Judge (2016)
• George Bridges:^[72] First African American male judge in Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois (1995)
• Clayton R. Williams (c. 1940s):^[73] First African American male lawyer in Madison County, Illinois. He would later become a judge.
• Mario J. Perez:^[74] First Latino American male lawyer in McHenry County, Illinois
• Carlos S. Arevalo:^[75] First Hispanic American to serve as the President of the McHenry County Bar Association, Illinois (2014)
• Abraham Morris Williams:^[76] First African American male lawyer in Sangamon County, Illinois
• Noah Parden:^[77] First African American lawyer and Assistant County Prosecutor in St. Clair County, Illinois
• David Garcia:^{[78] [79]} First Latino American male judge in Will County, Illinois (2013)

See also

• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in the United States

Other topics of interest

• List of first women lawyers and judges in the United States
• List of first women lawyers and judges in Illinois

Notes and References

1. Web site: Centennial Anniversary of Admission of the First Black Lawyer to the Illinois Bar. September 23, 1969.
2. Web site: Lloyd Garrison Wheeler (1848–1909). Encyclopedia of Arkansas. en-US. 2020-03-02.
3. Web site: Edward Hong / James Moe / Alfred Chan . 2024-06-04 . Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project . en-US.
4. News: Antonio Rosas Sarabia. tribunedigital-chicagotribune. 2018-02-16. en.
5. Web site: Deaf Lawyer Named New Circuit Judge. Clawson. Pat. chicagotribune.com. 22 February 1995 . en-US. 2018-12-07.
6. Web site: Generations of Pride: African American Timeline. www2.illinois.gov. 2018-01-11.
7. Web site: Centennial Milestones. Cook County Bar Association. 2018-01-11.
8. Web site: Walberg . Matt . 2002-08-12 . OBITUARIES: Bernard L. Barasa . 2024-06-06 . Chicago Tribune . en-US.
9. Web site: 1954 . THE 133D ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE . U.S. Government Printing Office.
10. Web site: National Hellenic Museum : Still image : Photograph [F2014.86] ]. 2023-12-19 . collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org.
11. Web site: No longer lonely on the bench, Latino judges in Illinois form an association. Schmich. Mary. chicagotribune.com. 2019-10-07.
12. Book: Congressional Record . April 21 – May 5, 2005 . Government Printing Office . 9780160846823 . V. 151, PT. 6.
13. Web site: Cape Verdean Voices: An Exhibition in Honor of Judge George N. Leighton - New Bedford Whaling Museum . 2024-02-07 . www.whalingmuseum.org . en-US.
14. Book: ADL Bulletin . 1969 . Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith . en.
15. Book: Kenney . David . Basic Illinois Government: A Systematic Explanation . Brown . Barbara L. . 1993 . SIU Press . 9780809318223 . en.
16. Book: Roland Burris Sworn in as Illinois' First Black Attorney General . 1991-02-04 . Johnson Publishing Company . en.
17. Web site: May 17, 2018 . JUSTICE Charles E. Freeman Announces Retirement After Long and Distinguished Career . Supreme Court of Illinois.
18. News: Elgin Attorney Is 1st Black Named To The Kane County Bench . tribunedigital-chicagotribune . 2018-01-12.
19. News: Judge Brown to leave the bench after 23 years . en . 2018-01-12.
20. Web site: History-making gay judge set to retire. Flitsch. Byron. January 6, 2010. Windy City Times. 2018-01-15.
21. Web site: The Alliance of Illinois Judges Illinois State Bar Association . 2022-02-16 . www.isba.org.
22. Web site: 2019-08-07 . Sebastian Patti: Legal icon talks past, health issues and accomplishments - Windy City Times News . 2022-02-16 . Windy City Times.
23. Web site: Former colleagues vie for 2nd District appellate seat -- Daily Herald. prev.dailyherald.com. 2020-03-09.
24. Web site: Moy Gets a Head Start on Circuit Court Judgeship. Lynn. Van Matre. chicagotribune.com. 15 October 1996 . en-US. 2020-03-09.
25. Web site: Asian American Compass: A Guide to Navigating the Community. 2011. Asian American Institute.
26. Web site: Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste NAAHP Annual Conference 2015 . 2023-12-19 . en.
27. Web site: Gazette Chicago » First Latino Appellate Judge Reyes sworn in . 2018-01-13 . www.gazettechicago.com . en-US.
28. Web site: Judge Jesse Reyes (JD '82) Sworn in as First Latino Illinois Appellate Court Judge JMLS News and Publications . 2018-01-13 . news.jmls.edu . en-US.
29. Web site: Yanaki . Nura A. . April 26, 2021 . Arab American Bar Association of Illinois . Chicago Dailly Law Bulletin.
30. Web site: January 4, 2021 . Chief Judge Evans names three new acting presiding judges of the Criminal, County and Traffic Divisions . 2022-04-14 . Circuit Court of Cook County.
31. Web site: Appellate Lawyers Association - Justice Daniel J. Pierce to Retire; Judge Sanjay Tailor Appointed to Fill Vacancy . 2024-06-05 . applawyers.org.
32. Book: The Chicago Reporter. 1976. Community Renewal Society.. en.
33. Book: Carney Smith, Jessie. Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events. 2012-12-01. Visible Ink Press. 9781578594252.
34. Book: Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress. 1967. U.S. Government Printing Office. en.
35. Web site: Bradley University: U.S. Judge Tells Graduates to Keep Building. 2018-01-19.
36. Web site: Ruben Castillo - First Hispanic Judge to serve on the Federal Sentencing Commission .
37. Castillo is also the first Latino American male judge to serve on the Federal Sentencing Commission.
38. Web site: Pioneer Hispanic federal judge from Elgin retires. Ferrarin. Elena. 2012-12-29. Daily Herald. en-US. 2019-01-25.
39. Web site: 2017-12-19 . 1st US federal judge of Armenian descent retiring . 2018-12-17 . Public Radio of Armenia . en-US.
40. Web site: December 9, 2016 . S7014: Congressional Record — Senate .
41. Thies . Daniel . December 2012 . Northern District welcomes Judge John Z. Lee . Federal Civil Practice . 11. 2 .
42. Web site: CAPAC Applauds Confirmation of Manish S. Shah to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). 2018-01-19.
43. Web site: Patel . Chirag . SABA Chicago Hosts Second Annual Judicial Reception - South Asian Bar Association of Chicago . 2022-04-14 . en-US.
44. Web site: Manson . Patricia . Valderrama's acumen, 'depth of soul' praised at investiture . Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
45. Web site: Burris, Roland (1937-) The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. blackpast.org. 18 January 2009 . en. 2018-12-13.
46. News: André . Vania . 2018-11-07 . Illinois Elects First Haitian-American Attorney General . en-US . The Haitian Times . 2023-12-19.
47. Book: Smith, John Clay. Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. 1993. University of Pennsylvania Press. 9780812231816. en.
48. Web site: Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Nomination of Gregory Harris to be Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois . 2022-04-15 . www.durbin.senate.gov . en.
49. Web site: James R. Burgess, Jr.. www.museumofthegrandprairie.org. 2020-03-12.
50. Book: Aiello, Thomas. The Battle for the Souls of Black Folk: W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and the Debate That Shaped the Course of Civil Rights: W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and the Debate That Shaped the Course of Civil Rights. 2016-05-23. ABC-CLIO. 978-1-4408-4358-7. en.
51. Web site: Lawrence X. Pusateri . 2022-03-06 . Chicago Tribune . 20 December 2005 . en.
52. Web site: Joliet attorney installed as 140th president of the Illinois State Bar Association. Baran–Unl. Denise M.. www.theherald-news.com. en. 2019-01-05.
53. News: Prosecutor Makes History as County's First Black Judge . en . 2018-01-13.
54. Web site: Kates . Joan Giangrasse . Chester Blair, Chicago attorney and bar president, dies at 86 . 2019-01-04 . chicagotribune.com . 25 March 2015 . en-US.
55. Web site: Transcript of Judge James Smith . 2022-03-06 . Cook County Court .
56. Web site: Moses Suarez Sworn in as First Latino president of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago . 2022-03-06 . www.salawus.com. 25 January 2019 .
57. Web site: Tom's Mailbag, Aug. 21, 2015. www.news-gazette.com. 21 August 2015 . en. 2019-01-17.
58. Web site: Steve Burgess recalls his father, James R. Burgess Jr.. 2013-11-21. Illinois Public Media. en. 2020-03-12.
59. Web site: Centennial Milestones Cook County Bar Association. cookcountybar.org. 2020-03-02.
60. Web site: Cecil A. Partee papers. www.lib.uchicago.edu. 2020-03-12.
61. Web site: Hellenic Bar Association . 2022-05-05 . www.hellenicbar.org.
62. Web site: 2003-01-17 . 1st Arab judge in Circuit Court . 2023-12-19 . Chicago Tribune.
63. Web site: Interview with Judge Sam Salamey First Arab American and Muslim Chief Judge of the 19th District Court. - Document - Gale Academic OneFile Select . 2023-12-19 . go.gale.com.
64. Web site: Sanjay Tailor appointed Associate Judge in Cook County. www.nriinternet.com. 2019-01-16.
65. Web site: Chief Judge Evans appoints Judge Ponce de Leon Presiding Judge of Fourth Municipal District . 2016-06-30.
66. Web site: The Illinois - Iowa Jewish Community on the Banks of the Mississippi River. Fleishaker. Oscar. June 1957.
67. Web site: Kane judicial system changes to better reflect diversity within county Illinois State Bar Association. www.isba.org. 2018-01-12.
68. News: Another Kane first: Latina attorney selected by peers as new judge. Hitzeman. Harry. Daily Herald. 2018-01-12. en-US.
69. News: Veteran Lake County judges announce plans to retire. Newton. Jim. Lake County News-Sun. 2018-01-12. en-US.
70. News: First black judge's retirement leaves further diversity gap in Lake County. Newton. Jim. Lake County News-Sun. 2018-01-12. en-US.
71. News: Lake County's first Hispanic judge elected chief of the court. Lake County News-Sun. 2018-01-12. en-US.
72. News: . Murphy . Jean . Waukegans first black judge credits father for stern hand . Daily Herald . 1 February 2009 . 3 .
73. Web site: Madison county's first black lawyer, judge dies at 95. Schmidt. Sanford J.. May 19, 2017. The Telegraph. Alton Illinois. 2017-10-31.
74. News: Mario J. Perez - The Woodstock Independent. 2012-11-06. The Woodstock Independent. 2017-09-24. en-US.
75. Web site: A fast learner and riser. Silverstein. Jack. July 14, 2014. Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
76. Web site: Abraham Morris Williams. www.sangamoncountycircuitclerk.org. 2018-02-13.
77. News: . ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE WILL BE ASKED TO HONOR PIONEERING BLACK LAWYER IN ST. CLAIR COUNTY . The Associated Press . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 3 January 2003 . B.2 .
78. Web site: Will County's first Latino judge appointed to bench. Fabbre. Alicia. September 11, 2013. chicagotribune.com. en-US. 2019-01-11.
79. News: First Latino Judge In Will County Fulfills Childhood Dream After Returning To School. Planas. Roque. 2013-09-05. Huffington Post. 2018-01-13.