--- title: "Thomas M. Harris | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-01" --- # Thomas M. Harris Illinois Appellate Court, District 4 · Appellate Court Justice ## Profile - Court: Illinois Appellate Court, District 4 - State: Illinois - Role: Appellate Court Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed and elected justice of the Illinois 4th District Appellate Court, serving since 2013 with a term ending in 2028 - 2008 — Elected resident circuit judge of Logan County ### Education - University of Illinois — B.A. - University of Colorado — J.D. ### Additional information - 2007 — Appointed as a judge - He has also served on the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and previously on the Special Supreme Court Committee to Study Courtroom and Judicial Security - Judge Harris has chaired the Allerton Conference and served on the Civil Practice and Procedure and Tort Law sections of the Illinois State Bar Association. - He was editor‐in‐chief of the Illinois Bar Journal and a past board member of the Illinois Bar Foundation. - He is active in professional seminars and guest lectures at the University of Illinois College of Law Office of the Illinois Courts - Birth place: Lincoln ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording and broadcasting Scope: 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. Evidence excerpt: 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 Court [Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/8db700cb-c17a-421d-8fdc-95ad22b399c9/Rule%2044.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### official record Scope: statewide The official record may be taken stenographically or through a Supreme Court-approved electronic recording system, including approved videoconferencing services. Evidence excerpt: 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](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/24ad75b6-a0a0-4a9f-b44e-1cf4daa67820/Rule%2046.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### appellate extended media coverage Scope: statewide All five Illinois Appellate Court districts accept extended-media requests for oral arguments, normally at least seven days in advance, subject to approval and continuing control by the assigned appellate panel. Evidence excerpt: All five districts of the Illinois Appellate Court shall allow requests for extended media coverage of oral arguments in accordance with the provisions of this policy. [Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/bfba1aa7-2408-416d-89b5-88fd3af5a247/Extended%20Media%20Coverage%20Appellate%20Court%20Policy%20No%20Forms.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/justice/41/Thomas-M-Harris/justice/) - [Official roster](https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/justice/41/Thomas-M-Harris/justice/) - [State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts official judicial roster](https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/justice/41/Thomas-M-Harris/justice/) - [Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/8db700cb-c17a-421d-8fdc-95ad22b399c9/Rule%2044.pdf) - [Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, Official Record of Court Proceedings](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/24ad75b6-a0a0-4a9f-b44e-1cf4daa67820/Rule%2046.pdf) - [Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/bfba1aa7-2408-416d-89b5-88fd3af5a247/Extended%20Media%20Coverage%20Appellate%20Court%20Policy%20No%20Forms.pdf) - [Official biography source for Thomas M. Harris](https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/justice/41/Thomas-M-Harris/justice/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris", "name": "Thomas M. Harris | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas M. Harris, Illinois Appellate Court, District 4. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-01", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris#judge", "name": "Thomas M. Harris", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris", "jobTitle": "Appellate Court Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Illinois Appellate Court, District 4" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/justice/41/Thomas-M-Harris/justice/" ], "birthPlace": "Lincoln", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Illinois" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Colorado" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Illinois", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/illinois" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas M. Harris", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-m-harris" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Illinois Supreme Court Rule 44, Photography and Video in the Courtroom](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-2089d8e032646c30d3e1fcec) — 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](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/8db700cb-c17a-421d-8fdc-95ad22b399c9/Rule%2044.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Illinois Appellate Court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-496a290e8b5af5294036b271) — 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](https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/bfba1aa7-2408-416d-89b5-88fd3af5a247/Extended%20Media%20Coverage%20Appellate%20Court%20Policy%20No%20Forms.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.