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Elect Sharon Johnson Coleman
Candidate for The Appellate Court (Burke Vacancy)
"A Fresh Perspective with 23 Years of Legal Experience"
Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman won the general election on November 4, 2008 with more than 1.2 million votes cast in her favor.
On February 5, 2008, Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman won the Democratic Party's nomination with over 358,000 votes in Cook County, 110,000 more votes than her next opponent.
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Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman has the  experience, integrity and energy a judge on the Illinois Appellate Court needs and the citizens of Cook County deserve.
Judge Coleman has exactly the right experience and knowledge necessary to accurately review and fairly decide appellate cases. In fact, Judge Coleman's 23 year career includes substantial time spent handling criminal, personal injury and family law matters -- the exact areas of law which are most often seen in appellate court cases.
Judge Coleman has a demonstrated record of integrity and superior judicial conduct. She has taught new judges conduct and ethics for nearly a decade, and was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Jury Instructions Committee. According to the Chicago Council of Lawyers, "She is praised for her integrity, character, and professional conduct."
Judge Coleman has the energy necessary to serve a decade-long term on the Appellate Court. At 47, Judge Coleman is in the prime of an active career in public service and the law. Her legal drive is well documented: she has argued before the Illinois Supreme Court, and written briefs, one of which was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. She has served as an Assistant State's Attorney and an Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Reasons to support Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman for the Appellate Court:
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She has presided over civil jury trials in the Law Division for more than 8 years
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She heard parental termination cases and child abuse and neglect cases in Child Protection Division for more than two years.
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She tried hundreds of criminal cases as an assistant state's attorney, rising to 1st Chair felony trial assistant.
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She argued or wrote appellate briefs and motions at every appellate level, including the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.
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She teaches judicial conduct and ethics to all the incoming judges in Cook County.
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"She is well respected for her knowledge of the law and her fine judicial temperament." The Chicago Bar Association.
Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman Career Summary
Elected Cook County Circuit Court Judge in 1996
- Serving in the law division for more than eight years
- Served in the child protection division for nearly three years
- Appointed by Illinois Supreme Court to the jury instructions committee
- Instructor for new judges on conduct and ethics for 10 years
Trial Attorney for 12 years
- Deputy State's Attorney for three years
- Supervising 75 attorneys in environmental law, elder abuse, child support, consumer fraud, and utilities regulation
- Assistant U. S. Attorney
- Civil litigator for government
- Assistant State's Attorney
- Criminal prosecutor and civil litigator
Appellate Experience
- Wrote, argued, or supervised preparation of over 100 briefs and motions, at all appellate levels
- First argument before the Illinois Supreme Court at the age of 25
- Wrote brief which was argued in the U.S. Supreme Court
- Argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Professional and Community Memberships
- Illinois Judges Association
- Illinois Judicial Council
- National Council of Juvenile and Family County Judges
- Black Women Lawyers Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Cook County Bar Association
- Women's Bar Association
- Catholic Charities Adoption Guild
- Chicago Coalition on Law-Related Education
- Leadership Greater Chicago
- Mayor's Advisory Council to the Department of Administration Hearings
- Principal For A Day Program
- Trinity United Church of Christ
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