Reyes is the first Latino elected to the Illinois Appellate Court. If elected, he will become the first Latino elected on the Illinois Supreme Court.
Chicago, IL – Today, Illinois Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes filed petitions for his candidacy to become a member of the Illinois Supreme Court in the upcoming Democratic primary elections to be held on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024.
“Today, hundreds of volunteers and thousands of my supporters have expressed their aspirations to see a much-needed voice on the Supreme Court bench, a voice that brings blue-collar families to the table, a voice that brings the immigrant experience to the table. From working in a factory to helping support my family and eventually becoming an Appellate Court Judge, I am that voice,” said Justice Reyes. “The Illinois Supreme Court should be reflective of the community at large it serves. I look forward to an exciting campaign in which the people will decide who will sit on the highest bench in the land of Lincoln.”
Justice Reyes has been found “Highly Qualified” or “Highly Recommended” to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court by the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
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About Justice Jesse Reyes
Raised in Chicago’s Pilsen and Bridgeport neighborhoods, he is the oldest of four children and the first in his family to attend high school and college. In 1997, Reyes was elected Associate Judge by his peers on the Circuit Court. In 2006, Reyes became the first Latino to lead the Illinois Judges Association. Reyes was elected to the First District Appellate Court in November of 2012, becoming the first Latino elected to the Illinois Appellate Court.
Reyes is the founding member and current president of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation. He is also a founding member and the former president of the Illinois Judges Foundation. He has served as president and member of many other Bar Associations throughout the years. In addition, The North Suburban Bar Association recently established the Justice Jesse G. Reyes Student Scholarship. Jesse and his wife, Terry, live on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Their daughter, Renee, is currently a high school teacher.