John Dalton at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit: Resident
- Jurisdiction
- Illinois · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John Dalton
Circuit: Resident · Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Biography
Professional career
- Judge John G. Dalton has served on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, 2nd Subcircuit, since being elected in 2012 and retained in 2018
- Dalton was elected to the 16th Circuit Court on November 6, 2012, defeating incumbent Judge John N. Walters with 53.6% of the vote
- His experience includes roles as Senior Counsel at Sears, Roebuck & Co. (2002–2003), Associate General Counsel at CitiGroup (2003–2009), and private practice from 1987 to 2003 and again from 2009 to 2012
- He has also held the role of an arbitrator and owned his own law office
- Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom; a senior associate of Rothschild, Barry & Myers; senior counsel for Sears, Roebuck and Co.; and owner/attorney of the Law Offices of John G. Dalton
- His academic achievements reflect a strong foundation in law and legal practice
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law — J.D., 1987, magna cum laude
- Augustana College — B.A., Political Science/Pre-Law, 1984, magna cum laude
Additional information
- Before his judicial career, Dalton worked extensively in private practice and corporate law.
- Unopposed in the Democratic primary earlier that year.
- His judicial responsibilities have included family court matters, though recent developments indicate a reassignment.
- On January 24, he was transferred from family court to civil courtroom 250, which handles evictions and property arbitration cases, marking a significant change in his courtroom duties
- Judge John Dalton is a long-serving member of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court, with extensive experience in both private and corporate law.
- His campaign financing includes personal contributions and donations from organizations such as the Kane County Democratic Central Committee and Fred Eychaner
- In Illinois State Bar Association and 16th Circuit Joint Judicial Advisory Polls, Dalton received mixed evaluations, with high scores in legal ability (71.81) and court management (75.26), but lower scores in temperament (37.89) and impartiality (58.06), resulting in an overall "Not Recommended" rating.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Photography, broadcasting, and recording in an Illinois courtroom are permitted only under Supreme Court authority or Rule 44's stated exceptions; participants may not record a remote proceeding unless the court directs it or extended-media coverage is approved.
the taking of photographs in the courtroom during sessions of the court or recesses between proceedings and the broadcasting or televising of court proceedings are permitted only to the extent authorized by order of the Supreme CourtIllinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom ↗
Official record
Statewide
The official record may be taken stenographically or through a Supreme Court-approved electronic recording system, including approved videoconferencing services.
The record of court proceedings may be taken by stenographic means or by an electronic recording system, including video conferencing services, approved by the Supreme Court.Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
Circuit court participants may appear remotely without advance approval in covered proceedings; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, and bench or jury trials require the presiding judge's approval, subject to the rule's case-specific safeguards.
Case participants shall be permitted to attend court via the circuit court's available remote appearance technology without any advance approval, except for the following proceeding types, which shall require the approval of the judge presiding over the matterIllinois Supreme Court Rule 45, Remote Appearances in Circuit Court Proceedings ↗
Statewide
Illinois circuit courts must implement Rule 45 through published local procedures and accessible remote technology; Rule 45 and controlling case orders determine whether approval is required.
Supreme Court Rule 45 authorizes and fosters the use of remote appearances in circuit courts with a goal of achieving uniformity in remote appearance practices throughout the state.Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Remote Court Appearances ↗
Extended Media Coverage
Statewide
Illinois circuit courts accept extended-media requests for public proceedings, normally at least seven days in advance, but the presiding judge may deny, limit, or terminate coverage and protected proceedings remain restricted.
all Illinois judicial circuit courts shall allow requests for extended media coverage of public court proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this policyPolicy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Electronic Filing of Documents
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Remote Appearances in Circuit Court Proceedings
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Discovery
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Signing of Pleadings, Motions and Other Papers-- Sanctions
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Appearances--Answers--Motions
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Motions on Grounds of Forum Non Conveniens
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — General Discovery Provisions
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule — Purposes for Which Depositions May be Taken in a Pending Action
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Circuit Court proceedings; civil-only rules remain civil-only. Remote-appearance categories and exceptions must be read in the full rule. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom
Illinois Circuit Court, 16
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 28, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts official judicial roster ↗Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom ↗Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings ↗Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, Remote Appearances in Circuit Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Rule 45, Remote Appearances in Circuit Court Proceedings ↗Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Remote Court Appearances
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Remote Court Appearances ↗Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois ↗