Bertina Lampkin campaign releases campaign bio

Appellate Court Justice Bertina Lampkin was recently endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party in her bid to keep the Appellate Court seat she now holds pursuant to Supreme Court appointment.

Justice Lampkin's campaign committee has launched her campaign by circulating a campaign biography. The biography notes her service on the Appellate Court since 2009, where she has "authored over 400 Opinions and Orders." Before being assigned to the Appellate Court, Lampkin was a Supervising Judge in the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, trying felony cases, "including many death penalty eligible cases," and supervising five to eight other judges.

In 1996 and 1997, Lampkin served as Supervising Judge of Domestic Violence Courts, hearing domestic violence cases and reviewing "over 1,000 emergency orders of protection." She became an Associate Judge in 1987 and was elected to the Circuit Court bench in 1992.

Before becoming a judge, Lampkin served as a Senior Attorney in the Office of the Corporation Counsel. Lampkin began her legal career in 1974, after graduating from DePaul University Law School, serving from 1974 to 1985 as an Assistant Cook County State's Attorney.

Among the many awards and honors received by Justice Lampkin in the course of her career are the 2010 Judicial Award, from the Cook County Bar Association, the 2010 C.F. Stradford Award from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, and the 2002 Mary Heftel Hooton Award for Service to the Profession, conferred by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

Justice Lampkin's community involvement includes her longtime service at Saint Paul CME Church, as "Steward, Sunday School Teacher, Director of Praise Dance Ministry, Tutor of children and young adults for nationwide Bible and Church History Contests." Lampkin's campaign biography notes that James D. Montgomery, Sr., Jerry Latherow and Retired Appellate Court Justice Gino DiVito are serving as Co-Chairs of her Campaign Committee.