Thomas R. Chiola | |
---|---|
Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County from the 8th Subcircuit | |
In office 1994–2009 | |
Succeeded by | Celia G. Gamrath |
Personal details | |
Born | March 18, 1952 |
Alma mater |
Illinois State University (
BS) University of Illinois ( JD) |
Thomas R. Chiola (born March 18, 1952) served as a judge of the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County from 1994 to 2009. He was the first openly gay person elected to public office in Illinois. [1]
Chiola grew up in Springfield, Illinois. [2] He graduated from Springfield's Griffin High School (now Sacred Heart-Griffin High School) in 1970. Chiola then received a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1974 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1977. [3] He served as an administrative law judge. [4] He also served as general counsel of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. [5]
In 1994, Chiola was elected to the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County. [6] [7] Chiola was the first openly gay candidate elected to any federal, state, county or municipal office in Illinois. [6] [7]
In 1997, Chiola was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. [8]