Public memorial service tomorrow for Justice Charles E. Freeman

The Illinois Supreme Court's memorial service for Justice Charles E. Freeman will be livestreamed tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, September 16, at 2:00 p.m. That's a link to the livestream link in the preceding sentence.

Opening and closing remarks for the service will be made by Chief Justice Anne M. Burke.

Those scheduled to offer tributes include retired Supreme Court Justice Benjamin K. Miller, retired Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas, First District Appellate Justice Robert E. Gordon, retired First District Appellate Justice Carl McCormick, attorney James D. Montgomery, Cook County Circuit Judge and Chair of Illinois Judicial Council Thaddeus L. Wilson, and current Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr.

Charles E. Freeman was born in Richmond, Virginia on December 12, 1933. He graduated from Virginia Union University in Richmond in 1954 with a B.A. in liberal arts. He received his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in February 1962.

Early in his professional career, Justice Freeman served as an Illinois assistant attorney general, an assistant state's attorney and an attorney for the Board of Election Commissioners.

He was appointed as an arbitrator to the Illinois Industrial Commission in January 1965 and served in that capacity until September 1973. From September 1973 until December 1976, he served as a commissioner on the Illinois Commerce Commission, having been appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Justice Freeman engaged in the general practice of law from 1962 to September 1976, when he was elected to the Cook County Circuit Court. While a Circuit Court Judge, Freeman became the first African-American to swear in a Mayor of the City of Chicago, his good friend, Harold Washington. Justice Freeman was elected to the Appellate Court in 1986.

He was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court on Nov. 6, 1990 and served until June 14, 2018, as the first African-American member of the Court. On May 12, 1997, he was selected as Chief Justice and served in that capacity until December 31, 1999.

Justice Freeman is survived by his son Kevin Freeman (wife Cami), grandchildren Skye Marie Freeman and Miles Charles Freeman, as well as his brother James Freeman of Richmond, Va. His wife of more than 50 years, Marylee, predeceased him.