Biography
MARK J. LOPEZ, LaGrange, incumbent, Serves as mediator/ arbitrator for JAMS, Former Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County (1999-2022) Served primarily in the Domestic Relations Division, Formerly Illinois Assistant Attorney General- Chief of Workers Compensation Division, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, and in general practice in Chicago’s Pilsen community. BS University of Illinois at Chicago, JD Northern Illinois University College of Law, Admitted 1984, ISBA activities: 40 year member, Board of Governors (2023-present) serving in the At Large Underrepresented Member seat, currently Board Liaison to the Federal Taxation, Food Law and the Energy, Utilities Telecommunications and Transportation Section Councils, member Senior Lawyers, Former member Family Law, Worker’s Compensation and Mental Health Section Councils,Illinois Bar Foundation-Bronze Champion, Articles contributed: Family Law Newsletter July 2014, Task Force on Diversity June 2015, 2016 Minority Bar reception-delivered welcome remarks, Presented at several ISBA CLE seminars in Family Law and New Lawyer Seminars over the past 25 years, Other Activities: member Illinois Judges Association, Illinois Latino Judges Association, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, serves as a mentor/teacher to law school students of diverse backgrounds, to young lawyers, to veteran lawyers considering the judiciary as well as the mentoring of new judges. Served as guest lecturer/speaker to area law schools as well as CLE presentations to many area bar associations. Participated in judicial exchanges with Mexico, Poland and Lebanon educating their judiciary about the U.S. legal system, Appointed by the Illinois legislature to the Illinois Family Law Study Committee to contribute to rewriting the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and the Illinois Parentage Act. Board member- Community Memorial Foundation (2014-2023) Married 38 years, two children, two grandchildren. Issue Statement: “To increase bar membership, leadership and participation with emphasis on young lawyers serving minority and underrepresented communities”
Issue Statement
To increase bar membership, leadership and participation with emphasis on young lawyers serving minority and underrepresented communities.