This June, we’re celebrating Pride Month and recognizing diverse voices in the judiciary. The following features Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Michael M. Weaver and his reflections on his career, diversity on the bench, and more.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the legal profession?
In short, the education. Prior to law school, I had worked in higher education for approximately six years. I wanted a new adventure, and despite the unsolicited advice of every lawyer I knew, I still decided to attend law school in order to expand my horizons. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my law degree, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I have made.
What accomplishments are you most proud of in your career?
I am enormously proud to serve my community as a circuit court judge. In addition, while in private practice, I spent hundreds of hours each year providing pro bono legal services. The ability to represent individuals who were in desperate need of legal representation was extremely fulfilling. My pro bono work inspired me to become a judge because I wanted to support the judiciary in making it more accessible to litigants.
Who do you consider to be a role model in your life? What advice did they share with you?
My grandfathers. Both of them worked very hard to be successful in their careers, but at the same time, made sure they were present in the lives of their families. The best advice they gave me – in their own way – was to never be afraid of taking chances in your life as it can only provide you new experiences.
How do you celebrate Pride Month and what does it mean to you?
Pride Month is important to the LGBTQIA+ community as it provides a great platform for our community to celebrate our achievements and reflect on our setbacks. For me, I use the month to reconnect with my friends and celebrate our community.
What are your thoughts on equality for the LGBTQIA+ community and LGBTQIA+ issues in the law?
Two months into my first year of law school, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued its decision in Goodridge v. Dep’t. of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003) that same-sex couples have a right to marry. This opinion led to a dramatic transformation of my rights under the law and made me truly grasp the importance of our judicial system.
Twelve years later, in 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. While it was a 5-4 opinion, I believe Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, gets credit for focusing the question not on whether a right to same-sex marriage existed, but whether justification existed to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. It was a long-road to reach Justice Kennedy’s opinion, however, his opinion helped to change the conversation from whether same-sex couples are entitled to marriage to whether society is entitled to exclude them from marriage. Obviously, the journey is not complete, and significant bumps in the road still exist, but our community is still moving forward towards true equality through engagement, hard work, and persistence.
How has the experience for LGBTQIA+ judges evolved over the course of your career?
Currently, I serve as Treasurer for the Alliance of Illinois Judges, an organization formed by and serving in support of LGBTQIA+ judges. When the founders first came together to discuss the formation of the organization, they were taking a personal and professional risk for being out and proud given the general attitude towards our community at that time. This month, the judges of the Alliance of Illinois Judges will be openly marching in the Chicago Pride Parade as one of the Grand Marshals. While more progress needs to be made, it is amazing as to the amount of progress made in the judiciary since the election of Judge Tom Chiola in 1994 as the first openly gay judge in Illinois.