Joliet Attorney Vincent F. Cornelius will be running for circuit judge for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Will County. He is running for the Democratic nomination in the March 20 primary.

Cornelius is the founder and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Vincent F. Cornelius in Joliet and Wheaton. He has tried hundreds of cases during his 28-year career, as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and civil litigator. He has been selected to Super Lawyers from 2015 to 2018 and was named to the 2018 edition of the “Best Lawyers in America.”

Cornelius has dedicated himself to service and leadership in his career, church, family, community and the schools he has attended. He has given keynote speeches to numerous organizations, including to the Illinois Supreme Court at its judicial conference.

Cornelius is the immediate past president of the Illinois State Bar Association, being both the first African American and first Will County attorney to hold the position. He has also served on Governor’s Commissions, Supreme Court Commissions, legislation committees and university boards.

Cornelius received his bachelor’s in business administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet and his Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University. He remains active with both schools and has received their outstanding alumni awards. He is a proud alum of Joliet Catholic Academy and he received the school’s 2017 Career Achievement Award.

Cornelius is a native of Joliet and resident of Will County for nearly 40 years, including the last 13 years in Naperville. He and his wife, Zina, have been married for 26 years and are the parents of two college students.