1.

Name (State full name and any former names used)

Linda Perez

2. Age

46 yrs.

3. Education (List schools, years attended, and degrees received)

Lincoln Park High School, Chicago, IL 1985-1989
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 1989-1993- Bachelor of Arts
Northern Illinois University, College of Law, DeKalb, Il 1998-2000 -Juris Doctorate

4. Current occupation and employer

I am an Assistant Public Defender in the Felony Trial Division with the Cook
County Public Defender’s Office.

5. Current hometown, and neighborhood if Chicago. If subcircuit candidate: How long have you lived there?
Chicago, IL, Ukrainian Village.
I was born and raised on the far southeast side of Chicago. I lived in Humboldt Park with my aunt, uncle
and cousins part-time while I attended Lincoln Park High School. My cousins from that Aunt were all
boys so, when I wanted more time with the girls, I visited with my female cousins and their family in
West Town. When I graduated law school, I learned that many of my colleagues had moved to the
Humboldt Park and Logan Square communities. I have spent so much time in those neighborhoods over
the years that I decided to make the move permanent last year.

6. Work history (List with years)

1996-1999 -Permanency Planning Advocate/Administrative Assistant with the
Cook County Public Defender

2002- Present -Assistant Public Defender with the Cook County Public Defender

7. In what areas of law do you have experience?

I have experience in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the Cook County Courts. I have represented
clients in Paternity Court, Drug Court, Veteran’s Court, and Mental Health Court. I have tried cases in
the Child Protection Division, Juvenile Justice Division , Domestic Violence Division, Traffic and
Misdemeanor, and in the Felony Division.

8. List your bar association memberships.

 I am a Member of The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, a Member of The Puerto Rican Bar
Association of Illinois and a Member of the Hispanic National Bar Association.

9. List all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable, or other organizations to which you
belong
AFSCME Local 3315
Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois
Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

10. Describe your civic involvement.

I have volunteered my time and donated to two charitable organizations for illnesses which have affected
my family the most, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the Lupus Society of Illinois.
I am on the board of Trustees of the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship fund of Illinois which provides
scholarships and fellowships to Law Students, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois- Charities, and
the Puerto Rican Bar Association Adopt A Family Program.

11. Describe your current and former political involvement.

I am a Democratic Candidate for Cook County Judge. I am taking an active role in my own campaign
and have worked with my volunteers to collect and verify signatures, canvass door to door, and I have
attend numerous community events to meet voters in every community within the subcircuit. I have also
supported numerous Democratic campaigns throughout my life as a volunteer in various capacities and
later, in my adult life, I have financially supported some campaigns as well.

12. Have you run for judge before? When and for which seat?
NOT APPLICABLE.

13. List your published writings, with dates and with links if available.
NOT APPLICABLE.

14. Why do you want to be a Cook County judge?

 Although I have loved my career as a Public Defender, I realize that that in order to maximize the
likelihood of realizing my dream of contributing to positive changes within the court system, I must be in
a position where my actions will impact a greater number of people.

15. What are the most pressing issues facing the justice system and why?
Inadequate funding for clients with mental health issues and drug and alcohol addictions. This results in
inadequate treatment for their needs including their inability to access appropriate medications and/ or
counseling, not only while they are awaiting trial, but also while serving lengthy sentences in the Illinois
Department of Corrections.
Racial and ethnic profiling by law enforcement are also matters of great concern, both of which ​result in
higher arrest rates and mass incarceration of minorities.

16. How will your experiences help you serve as a good judge?
I worked for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office for 2 years as an Administrative Assistant in the
Civil Division, prior to attending NIU College of Law, and I have spent the last 15 years of my career
working in civil, traffic, misdemeanor and felony court rooms in Cook County Courthouses on an almost
daily basis as an attorney with the Public Defender’s Office. I have tried cases in both the Civil and
Criminal divisions of the office and have represented juvenile and adult clients. I do not have the option
of refusing representation to any defendant for any reason. I represent clients at all phases of their
case, from bond hearing through disposition and I spend hours with each of them, whether they are in
custody or out on bond, in order to review discovery, discuss their options and prepare for litigation. I
have worked closely with the secretaries and investigators in the Public Defender’s Office over the years
and have worked side by side in court rooms with numerous judges, clerks, Deputy Sheriffs, State’s
Attorneys, private attorneys, court reporters, probation officers, court interpreters, social workers and
other service providers. I understand the importance of building relationships based on mutual respect
and understanding. I know that each party to a case and each member of the courtroom staff has a
different role to play and I understand those roles have limitations and restrictions that need to be
respected by everyone. I also understand the frustrations that members of the public feel when dealing
with the overcrowded courtrooms and when they are not adequately informed regarding the status of
their case.
17. What do you wish voters knew about you?

My decision to run for this office was made after careful reflection upon my career as an attorney with the
Cook County Public Defender’s Office and how that experience could be beneficial for a Circuit Court
Judge. I am running because of my experience and my strong belief that judiciary in Cook County should
be more diverse, and more representative of the communities it serves​.