2025 BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT:

Judge Judith C. Rice

Judge Judith C. Rice has served as a Circuit Court Judge in Cook County since 2014, initially overseeing cases related to traffic, DUI, eviction, and domestic violence. In 2019, she transitioned to the Domestic Relations Division, where she presided over divorce, child custody, and support cases.

In 2021, Judge Rice was appointed Acting Presiding Judge of the Domestic Violence Division. In this role, she has spearheaded initiatives to expand access to protection orders, improve court services, and increase personnel. Notable accomplishments include the implementation of after-hours emergency protection orders, enhanced data transparency, and successful collaborations with stakeholders to better support victims of domestic violence, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

Before her judicial career, Judge Rice held leadership positions in both government and banking. She served as Chicago’s City Treasurer and led several key city agencies, including the Departments of Water and Transportation. Additionally, as a Senior Vice President at BMO Harris Bank, she was lauded by her peers for her advocacy of financial literacy.

A graduate of Loyola University and John Marshall Law School, Judge Rice is actively involved in numerous legal and community organizations, where she advocates for diversity and equality in the judiciary. Her outstanding leadership has earned her several prestigious honors, including the Most Powerful Women in Banking award and the Hon. Charles E. Freeman Judicial Merit Award.