Politics & Government

Longtime Assistant State's Attorney Tina Filipiak to Run for Judge

Tina Filipiak says, "The best judges are those that know that what happens in the courtroom is not about the judge but the litigants in each case."

A local woman announces her intention to run for a seat on the Will County bench in the following news release:

Tina Filipiak, a 21-year veteran of the Will County State’s Attorney’s office who was recently named “State’s Attorney of the Year”, is running for Will County Circuit Judge.

Filipiak is hoping to take the bench in the county’s 2nd Subcircuit, a seat elected by voters in Troy and Joliet Townships and parts of other townships.  The Democratic primary election will be held in March 2014.

Filipiak’s experience and commitment to making Will County a better community drove her to the decision to run for judge.

“I have been working hard protecting the children of Will County for over 21 years and trying to make the communities safer through effective prosecution of crime.  I am hopeful that the people of the 2ndSubcircuit recognize my dedication and allow me to continue that mission as a Circuit Court Judge,”  Filipiak said.

Filipiak will kick-off her campaign efforts October 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Fritz’s Pour House, 1511 Plainfield Road, in Joliet.

Local law enforcement and the county's top prosecutor have already backed Filipiak. She has received endorsements from Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, the Fraternal Order of Police, Joliet Lodge #58 and the Will County Deputy Sheriff’s Union.

"I am very thankful that the police unions and Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow trust in my abilities to do this job well," Filipiak said.

Filipiak joined the Will County State’s Attorney’s office in 1992 and only one year later Glasgow appointed her Supervisor of the State’s Attorney’s Juvenile Division.  Filipiak supervises all prosecutions involving minors in Will County including the Juvenile Drug Court program which helps young people cope with addictions to illegal drugs and assists them with education and counseling.  Filipiak also supervises the prosecution of those who perpetrate abuse and neglect of Will County’s children striving to ensure that the children are safe and protected.

In 2010, Filipiak was named “State’s Attorney of the Year” by the Illinois State Crime Commission for her work as a Will County Assistant State’s Attorney.

“The best judges are those that know that what happens in the courtroom is not about the judge but the litigants in each case.  No matter how big or small the case may seem, that case is important to the parties, perhaps the most important thing in their lives at the time, and the issues deserve a fair judge who will listen to all sides and make a decision based on the law,” said Filipiak.

Filipiak is a graduate of St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin.  She earned her Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Filipiak is the daughter of a union United State’s Postal worker and an elementary school teacher.

She resides in Joliet with her husband, Shawn Filipiak, a Joliet Police Detective, and their young daughter.


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