Raymond W. Mitchell

Professional career

• Justice of the Illinois First District Appellate Court, appointed in 2022 and elected for a term through 2032, with a career spanning 14 years as a Cook County Circuit Court judge and prior roles in private practice and judicial clerkships
• Judicial Clerkships: held the role of clerk to Judge James L. Ryan (U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit) and Justice James D. Heiple (Illinois Supreme Court)
• The Illinois Supreme Court has announced that Cook County Circuit Judge Raymond W. Mitchell has been appointed as an Appellate Court Justice in the First District, Sixth Division

Education

Additional information

• Mitchell’s 2022 campaign received endorsements from the Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Firefighters’ Union, and Illinois Federation of Teachers.
• Supreme Court appoints Judge Raymond W. Mitchell as First District Appellate Court Justice | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts Prior to joining the bench, Judge Mitchell worked for 10 years as a Partner and Associate at Winston & Strawn LLP.
• He has stated that his only agenda is to serve as a good judge, guided by the principle “Audi Alteram Partem” — “Hear the other side”
• Before joining the bench, Mitchell worked in appellate advocacy, arguing cases in the Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Appellate Court, and U.S. Court of Appeals.
• He is recognized by major bar associations — including the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Council of Lawyers, and Illinois State Bar Association — as “highly qualified” and “exceptionably knowledgeable”