Judith Rice facts for kids

Judith Rice was born on July 30, 1957. She is an American leader who has held important jobs in Chicago. She served as the Chicago City Treasurer from 2000 to 2006. Since 2014, she has been a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Early Life and Education

Judith Rice was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Fred Rice Jr. and Thelma Rice. Her father later became the first black head of the Chicago Police Department in 1983. Her grandparents were sharecroppers, which means they farmed land owned by someone else.

Judith went to Avalon Park Elementary School. She then attended Mercy High School. In high school, she was part of the drama club. She even played the main role in her school's play, Hello, Dolly!.

After high school, Judith went to Northern Illinois University. She later transferred to Loyola University Chicago. She graduated with a degree in communications in 1981. In 1984, she went to UIC John Marshall Law School. She earned her law degree in 1988. After that, she became a licensed lawyer in Illinois.

Starting Her Career

Judith Rice began her career in public service. In 1982, she worked for the Cook County State's Attorney office. She helped victims and witnesses of crimes. Later, she became an assistant for the Illinois Attorney General's office.

She held several important roles for the City of Chicago. She worked in different departments, helping to manage the city's services. From 1993 to 1995, she was the Director of the Department of Revenue. This department handles the city's money.

Judith Rice also made history. From 1996 to 1999, she was the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water. She was the first woman to lead this department. Then, from 1999 to 2000, she led the Chicago Department of Transportation. She was also the first woman to head this department.

Chicago City Treasurer

In November 2000, Mayor Richard M. Daley chose Judith Rice to be the Chicago City Treasurer. The City Treasurer is in charge of managing the city's money. This includes investing funds and keeping financial records. The Chicago City Council approved her appointment. She officially started her job on November 15, 2000.

Judith Rice was reelected as City Treasurer in 2003. She ran for the office without anyone running against her. In 2006, she announced she would be leaving the position. Mayor Daley then appointed Stephanie Neely to take her place. After leaving the Treasurer's office, Judith Rice worked as a Deputy Mayor for a year.

Working in the Private Sector

After her time in city government, Judith Rice worked for BMO Harris Bank. She started there in 2007. She held several important roles at the bank. She was a Senior Vice President and led the bank's government relations. This meant she worked with government officials. She also helped with community affairs and economic development.

Becoming a Judge

In 2014, Judith Rice decided to run for a judge position. She was elected to a vacant seat on the 7th subcircuit of the Circuit Court of Cook County. This court handles many different types of legal cases. She won the Democratic primary election against two other candidates.

She officially became a judge on December 1, 2014. On the court, Judge Rice has been assigned to the Domestic Relations Division. This division handles cases related to families, like divorce. In 2020, she was successful in her retention election. This means voters chose to keep her as a judge.

Community Involvement

Judith Rice has also been involved in nonprofit work. She has served on the advisory board of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. This organization helps children who have experienced difficult situations.

Awards and Recognition

In 2019, the Cook County State's Attorney office honored Judith Rice. She received one of their Pride Recognition Awards. These awards celebrate outstanding community leaders, lawyers, and judges in Cook County.

See also

• List of LGBT jurists in the United States