Charles E. Freeman

Charles E. Freeman (December 12, 1933 – March 2, 2020)[1] was an American attorney who served as a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was elected to the position on November 6, 1990, becoming its first African-American justice.[2] He served as Chief Justice from May 12, 1997 to January 1, 2000.[2] He retired from the court on June 14, 2018.

Charles E. Freeman
Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
In office
November 6, 1990 – June 14, 2018
Preceded byDaniel P. Ward
Succeeded byP. Scott Neville Jr.
Personal details
BornDecember 12, 1933
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 2, 2020 (aged 86)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materVirginia Union University (BA)
John Marshall Law School (JD)

Early life, family and education

Freeman was born in Richmond, Virginia. Freeman received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Union University in 1954 and J.D. degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1962.[2]

Career

Illinois Governor Otto Kerner appointed Freeman to the Illinois Industrial Commission in January 1965 as an arbitrator. Freeman heard thousands of work-related injury cases. In September 1973 Governor Dan Walker named Freeman to the Illinois Commerce Commission, a rate regulatory agency with power over telephone, electricity and gas companies. Freeman worked on the commission until December 1976.[2]

Freeman also conducted a general law practice from 1962 until 1976, when he was elected to the Cook County Circuit Court. He served ten years on the court and swore in Harold Washington, a personal friend, as Mayor of Chicago. Freeman was a member of several bar associations and professional judiciary societies, and has won a number of awards throughout his career.

From his re-election in 2002, Freeman ranked as the senior member of the Illinois Supreme Court until his retirement in 2018. While on the court he showed particular interest in administrative reform and prosecutorial misconduct cases.

Personal life

Freeman was married to his wife, Marylee, until her death in 2013. They have one son, an attorney, and two grandchildren. Freeman died on March 2, 2020 in Chicago. He was 86.[3]

References
  1. NNDB profile
  2. "Charles E. Freeman, Supreme Court Justice First District". IllinoisCourts.gov. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  3. Goldsborough, Bob. "Charles Freeman, first African American justice on Illinois Supreme Court, dies at 86". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
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