2026 BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT:

Judge Linda J. Pauel

Judge Linda J. Pauel has served on the bench since 2014, presiding over cases in the
Juvenile Justice Division for the past 13 years. A dedicated advocate for equity and
inclusion, she has served for the past 7 years on the board of the Alliance of Illinois Judges.

During her tenure on the board, she has been a vocal advocate for addressing the inequalities faced by the transgender community and has worked to foster alliances both within and beyond the legal community, particularly among marginalized groups.

Committed to education and awareness, Judge Pauel has taught unconscious bias to judges and attorneys since taking the bench. Understanding the power of literacy, she also
launched a library program in her courtroom, providing free books to the children who
appear before her.

Beyond the courtroom, Judge Pauel enjoys exploring the country on her bicycle, watching
rugby, listening to reggae music, and cherishing time with her family and friends.