| Thomas R. Chiola | |
| Office: | Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from the 8th Subcircuit |
| Termstart: | 1994 |
| Termend: | 2009 |
| Successor: | Celia G. Gamrath |
| Birth Date: | 18 March 1952 |
Thomas R. Chiola (born March 18, 1952) served as a judge of the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County from 1994 to 2009. He was the first openly gay person elected to public office in Illinois.[1]
Chiola grew up in Springfield, Illinois.[2] He graduated from Springfield's Griffin High School (now Sacred Heart-Griffin High School) in 1970. Chiola then received a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1977.[3] He served as an administrative law judge.[4] He also served as general counsel of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.[5]
In 1994, Chiola was elected to the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County.[6] [7] Chiola was the first openly gay candidate elected to any federal, state, county or municipal office in Illinois.[6] [7]
In 1997, Chiola was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.[8]