Announcement, Press Release |
Judge Charles S. Beach II was sworn in today as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, marking the start of a new chapter for one of the largest unified court systems in the nation. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville administered the oath of office during an investiture ceremony held at the Ogilvie Auditorium at Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Judge John Lyke served as Master of Ceremonies, with remarks delivered by Judge Ankur Srivastava, Judge Alfredo Maldonado, and Judge Mary C. Marubio. The ceremony was livestreamed on the Court’s YouTube channel, @CookCntyCourt, to provide broad public access.
Chief Judge Beach, who was elected to the position on Sept. 10, 2025, succeeds Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, who served in the role since 2001. In his inaugural remarks, Beach emphasized the court’s role as the vital mechanism through which our community resolves its deepest conflicts and upholds its most cherished ideals.
He outlined three governing principles:
- Justice — Justice demands a system that is transparent, predictable, and fully accessible to every resident, regardless of their station.
- Fairness— Relentless action in seeking out and dismantling any barriers, visible or invisible, that impede equal treatment in our courtrooms.
- Kindness to Others — Treating every defendant, every victim, every witness, and every person who walks through our doors not just as a case number, but as an individual whose life hangs in the balance.
“Our job is not merely to process cases. It is to deliver justice — fairly, efficiently and with respect to every person who comes through our doors,” Chief Judge Beach said.
In the coming days and weeks, Chief Judge Beach will announce his leadership team and begin rolling out an implementation plan for his priorities.
“I am honored by the trust placed in me by my colleagues, the legal community and the people of Cook County,” Beach said. “This role comes with great responsibility. I pledge to lead with integrity, to listen and to act boldly to make our courts more accessible, efficient and just for all. We begin today — let’s get to work.”
About Chief Judge Charles Beach
Chief Judge Beach has served on the Circuit Court of Cook County since he was appointed to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2017. He has supervised both the Traffic and Pretrial Divisions. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for fairness, efficiency and advocacy for access to justice. He holds a B.S. in Finance and Insurance from Michigan State University and a J.D. from DePaul College of Law. Throughout his judicial career, Beach has been active in legal education, pro bono initiatives and judicial reform efforts, including being instrumental in identifying, implementing and executing the plan to transition Cook County from traditional bond court to the Pretrial Fairness Act First Appearance Court.
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