Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Hon. Timothy Evans to First District Appellate Court

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the appointment of Cook County Circuit Judge Timothy C. Evans to the First District Appellate Court.

Judge Evans is being appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Terrence J. Lavin on March 31, 2026. The appointment is effective August 17, 2026, and will conclude on December 4, 2028.

Judge Evans has a reputation as a hard worker who spent nearly a quarter century serving the public as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. That experience leading hundreds of judges means he understands the importance of excellent judicial service and makes him a valuable addition to the appellate court.

“My career has been dedicated to fairness, impartiality, and public service,” Judge Evans said. “I look forward to bringing those values, together with decades of judicial experience and leadership, to the important work of the appellate court.”

Judge Evans has served on the bench since 1992 when he was elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County. He was elected as Chief Judge of the Circuit Court in September 2001, becoming the first African American to serve as Chief Judge. He served in that capacity until 2025.

Judge Evans implemented a number of reforms and initiatives while serving as Chief Judge. He oversaw the opening of the state’s first Restorative Justice Community Courts in the North Lawndale, Avondale, and Englewood neighborhoods of Chicago and the first Restorative Justice Community Court in the suburbs in Sauk Valley. Judge Evans guided the Cook County courts during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption of jury trials with public health precautions.

He earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) in 1969.

Judge Evans has received numerous honors during his career including the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts in 2009. He was named Person of the Year by Chicago Lawyer magazine in 2017.

(FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: James Brunner, Public Information Officer of the Illinois Supreme Court at 217.208.3354 or jbrunner@illinoiscourts.gov.)