Mary K. O'Brien at a glance
- Current role
- Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Illinois · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary K. O'Brien
Justice · Supreme Court of Illinois
Biography
Professional career
- Mary Kay O’Brien is an American judge and politician who has held the role of Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for the 3rd District since December 5, 2022
- Official site: Illinois Courts – Justice Mary K. O’Brien Office of the Illinois Courts
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law in — J.D. (1994)
Additional information
- In 1996, she was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives for the 75th district, serving from 1997 to 2003.
- O’Brien began her legal career at the Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office before opening her own law firm in Coal City, Illinois.
- On the Appellate Court, O’Brien served on multiple commissions and committees, including the Illinois Courts Commission, Illinois Workers Compensation Commission, and the Appellate Court Access to Justice Committee
- During her legislative tenure, she chaired the Judiciary II Criminal Law Committee and championed reforms such as expanding the statute of limitations for criminal sexual assault of a minor and requiring psychological evaluations for animal torture cases
- She has received numerous awards, including the Star Award from the Kankakee Society of Women in the Law, Zonta Club International Woman of the Year Award (Kankakee Chapter), and the Outstanding Alumni Award from Western Illinois University
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom
Supreme Court of Illinois
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 August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 6, 2026.
Illinois Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View 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 ↗