1. Name (State full name and any former names used) SAMUEL J.

BETAR III

2. Age
61

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

Boston College BA, cumlaude 1979, Loyola U. School of Law JD 1983

4. Current occupation and employer

Judge, State of Illinois, Circuit Court of Cook County

5. Current hometown, and neighborhood if Chicago. If subcircuit candidate: How long have you lived there?
Barrington, IL. 13​th​ subcircuit. 16 years

6. Work history (List with years)

1998- Present, Judge Circuit Court of Cook County. 1983-1998- Private practice of law.

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

Civil and Criminal Litigation in State and Federal Courts. Labor law. As a sitting Judge I’ve handled
almost every type of case in our system, felonies, misdemeanors, domestic violence, civil, divorce,
parentage, traffic.

8. List your bar association memberships.

Northwest Suburban Bar Assoc., 7​th​ Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Assoc., Arab American Bar Assoc.,
Illinois Judges Assoc.

9. List all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable, or other organizations to which you
belong
Moose, Knights of Columbus, Maywood Sportsmen’s Club.

10. Describe your civic involvement.

I’ve coached youth soccer, softball and lacrosse. I volunteer to serve as a judge for the state wide high
school mock trial competition. I speak annually to a social studies law class at Barrington High School. I
volunteer for charitable events sponsored by the Moose and Knights of Columbus.
11. Describe your current and former political involvement.
I’m not actively involved in politics.

12. Have you run for judge before? When and for which seat?
I have not run for judge previously.

13. List your published writings, with dates and with links if available.
None.

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

I’ve been a sitting judge for 20 years. There is no higher calling than public service. Working as a judge
has allowed me to serve the public in a noble profession. The job of judging involves more than
determining guilt or innocence and sentencing. As a judge I’ve had unique opportunities to assist
individuals in crisis. Some of those crises involve poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence,
compulsive anger and other disorders. Addressing those issues in a constructive manner and attempting to
help individuals through those crises is challenging and takes creative energy. I enjoy working with other
professionals in creating a sentencing plan to assist individuals in crisis. The ultimate reward is when
individuals reach their goal, complete their sentence successfully and do not lapse into recidivism.
When those goals are met, the individual defendant and the public all benefit.

15. What are the most pressing issues facing the justice system and why?
There is a current crisis in our legal system that makes access to justice extremely difficult, particularly
for the poor and vulnerable. In response to that crisis, I helped design and implement a program whereby
private attorneys provide pro bono services to victims of domestic violence who wish to file petitions for
orders of protection against their abusers. In addition, I believe that all attorneys should be required to
donate annually, a minimum number of hours of pro bono services.
16. How will your experiences help you serve as a good judge?
As a judge for 20 years, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the bench. I’ve handled almost
every type of case in our system and have dealt fairly with people from every walk of life. The Illinois
Supreme Court has recognized my qualifications by appointing me to a circuit judge vacancy and by
selecting me to teach at the state wide judicial education conference and the new judges school.
Similarly, the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County has expressed confidence in me by
appointing me to teach at the new judges school and by assigning me to mentor new judges in our system.

17. What do you wish voters knew about you?

On the back of my name plate on the bench are the phrases, “Patience, attention, empathy and respect.
Judge as you wish to be judged.” I strive to achieve those goals every day. For 20 years I’ve served the
public professionally and with integrity. I hope to win my election so I may continue to serve.