FN-6082063 MN-6082063 LN-6082063, Esq.
Attorney, Former Judge
Joliet, Illinois
Former state court trial judge (eight and a half years on the bench) with more than two decades of private practice litigation experience in large, medium, and small firms in Chicago and Washington, DC. State court experience includes presiding over jury and bench trials and mediating dozens of cases to successful resolution in civil trial, family, and traffic divisions. Instructor at Continuing Legal Education Programs for judges in Illinois.
Bailey Glasser LLP - Partner
Attorney, Former Judge
Partner, Bailey Glasser LLP, 2023-Present; Associate Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Illinois (Will County), 2015-2023; Partner, Bailey Glasser LLP, 2005-2015; Supervising Attorney, Will County Legal Assistance Project, 2001-2005; Associate, Spesia, Ayres, Ardaugh & Wunderlich, 1997-2001; Associate, Lord Bissell & Brook, 1993-1995.
Commercial Litigation – As a Judge: Presided over jury and bench trials in Civil Division, including cases involving business disputes, contract disputes, medical malpractice and other personal injury, auto accidents, and probate and estate litigation. As a Practicing Lawyer: Two decades of experience as a commercial litigator in diverse areas of the law, including banking and finance, toxic torts, energy, environmental, and natural resources, bankruptcy and restructuring, and regulatory including government relations and compliance matters.
Family Law – As a Judge: Presided over hundreds of bench trials in divorce, custody, child support, and other domestic relations disputes in Family Law Division. Cases ranged from self-represented litigants to divorce matters with more than $50 million in marital assets.
Family Law – As a Judge: Presided over hundreds of bench trials in divorce, custody, child support, and other domestic relations disputes in Family Law Division. Cases ranged from self-represented litigants to divorce matters with more than $50 million in marital assets.
Adopted problem-solving approach to assigned cases while on the bench; every case had the potential for resolution short of trial and every hearing or status conference had the potential to be a mediation or settlement conference. In many instances, continued litigation would squander the parties’ and the court’s limited resources. Once the parties had adequate information through formal and informal discovery processes, a path to resolution often could be found if the parties were open to it. Convincing the parties to consider mediation using the court as a neutral often worked, as the judge can persuasively attest to “having seen this movie before” and confidently offer views on the range of possible mediated outcomes as compared to trial outcomes. In transitioning back to practice and into mediation, these same approaches would be offered in assisting parties to better resolutions than they would obtain through litigating cases to trial in state or federal courts.
Medical malpractice claims against medical providers including the hospital and doctors.
Commercial litigation involving alleged fraudulent contractor billing.
Securities fraud claims involving non or low performing securities.
Property dispute regarding nature and extent of easement.
Numerous personal injury cases involving intentional and negligent conduct.
Numerous automobile accident cases.
Family law cases involving assets, property, spousal and child support and custody issues.
Commercial litigation involving alleged fraudulent contractor billing.
Securities fraud claims involving non or low performing securities.
Property dispute regarding nature and extent of easement.
Numerous personal injury cases involving intentional and negligent conduct.
Numerous automobile accident cases.
Family law cases involving assets, property, spousal and child support and custody issues.
I view myself as the agent of the parties. I learn as much information as I reasonably can about the facts of the case, the applicable law, and the interests of the parties. As a judge, this information often came from the case files and was accumulated over the life of the matter. By the time the parties were ready to discuss mediation, I knew the case almost as well as they did. In occasionally mediating cases to assist my judicial colleagues, I came in cold and asked the parties for short mediation statements. In every instance, I deployed my experience as a litigator and judge to do some “reality testing” with the parties in regard to their respective positions. I was able to say that I “have seen this movie before” and offer observations about how prior cases like theirs had resolved, whether by mediation or trial (or other court terminations like summary judgment). I often talk about the “fog of war” – the uncertainty that comes with letting others (judges or juries) determine the outcome – and how parties often (though not always) are well-served to take that uncertainty out of the equation by controlling their own fate. I only convey information to the other side when authorized. However, if after a mediation reaches a potential impasse, I will ask the parties if they mutually would request a “mediator’s proposal,” which is my best effort to state terms that would satisfy the interests of both sides.
Held court proceedings over Zoom and Teams throughout the pandemic and willing to conduct hearings and conferences over those and similar platforms. Zoom Coordinator for virtual meeting of District XI Selection Committee for Rhodes Scholarships in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Boston College Law School (J.D., cum laude-1993); Yale University (B.A., magna cum laude-1989).
Admitted to the Bar: Illinois (1993); U.S. District Court: Northern District of Illinois (1994).
Will County Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association.
Publications:
“Reflections on the Importance of Legal Aid in Recognition of the 50th Anniversary of LAF,” (with Robert M. Dow, Jr), The Circuit Rider (April 2016) (Journal of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association).
Speaking Engagements:
“Setting up a Self-Represented Litigant Call,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Summer 2021.
“Setting up a Self-Represented Litigant Call,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Spring 2021.
“Anatomy of a Divorce Case,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Summer 2019.
“Anatomy of a Divorce Case,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Spring 2019.
“Reflections on the Importance of Legal Aid in Recognition of the 50th Anniversary of LAF,” (with Robert M. Dow, Jr), The Circuit Rider (April 2016) (Journal of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association).
Speaking Engagements:
“Setting up a Self-Represented Litigant Call,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Summer 2021.
“Setting up a Self-Represented Litigant Call,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Spring 2021.
“Anatomy of a Divorce Case,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Summer 2019.
“Anatomy of a Divorce Case,” presented at Illinois Judicial Education Conference, Spring 2019.
$500 Per Hour
English
United States of America
Joliet, IL
The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
