Rossana Fernandez campaign website launched

Supporters of Judge Rossana Fernandez's bid to remain on the Cook County Circuit Court bench have launched a campaign website. That's a link to the site in the preceding sentence; a link has also been added to the blog Sidebar.

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Judge Fernandez to the countywide Elrod vacancy earlier this year. Fernandez's website notes that she is the daughter of immigrant parents for Uruguay and Guatemala. Before establishing her own firm, Fernandez became the "first Latina Partner" at the law firm of Sanchez & Daniels (in 2007) (Manuel "Manny" Sanchez is co-chairing her campaign).

According to her campaign website, prior to her appointment, Fernandez served on the Board of Governors for the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and was an active member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel and Defense Research Institute. Fernandez continues to serve on the Board of Governors for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and is an active member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Justinian Society of Lawyers and Women’s Bar Association.

Judge Fernandez graduated from Chicago Kent IIT College of Law in 1996. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois (in English literature and history). She is a graduate of Chicago's Lane Technical High School. Growing up in Chicago, according to her campaign website, Fernandez was a member of the Erie Neighborhood House Drill Team. She later volunteered there and served as a mentor where she later volunteered and served as a mentor. Fernandez continues to serve as a volunteer with Chicago Cares, "assisting with customized service projects that benefit the Chicago community, particularly the Chicago Public School System," according to her campaign website.