Michael M. Toomin at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- Appellate Court of Illinois
- Current assignment
- Appellate Court of Illinois
- Jurisdiction
- Illinois · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Michael M. Toomin
Judge · Appellate Court of Illinois
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Appellate Court of Illinois, 2010-present
- Supervising judge of the Criminal Division from 1994, served on the First District Appellate Court (2008–2010), and was presiding judge of the Juvenile Court until his retirement in December 2022
- He became a solo criminal defense attorney from 1969 to 1980, then was appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court in 1980
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1956–1958) before starting as an assistant public defender in Cook County in 1967.
Education
- B.A. from Northwestern University (1962) and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law (1967)
Additional information
- Michael P. Toomin (1938–2023) was a retired Cook County Circuit Court judge in Illinois, best known for presiding over high-profile criminal cases such as the retrial of mob hitman Harry “The Hook” Aleman and the sentencing of gang leader Jeff Fort, and for his long tenure as presiding judge of the county’s juvenile court
- Chief Judge Tim Evans called him “a man of both great intellect and great compassion”.
- Over more than 40 years on the bench, he presided over hundreds of murder cases and jury trials.
- His career is often cited as an example of judicial integrity and high-profile case management
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
Appellate 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 2026-07-26Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court
Appellate 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Appellate Court of Illinois current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Appellate Court of Illinois current judicial profile ↗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 ↗