Thomas E. Hoffman was born Dec. 23, 1947, in Chicago. He was educated at Loyola University (B.B.A., 1969) and the John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1971). He served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago from 1971 to 1976 before entering private practice. Judge Hoffman was appointed an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 1984, elected a Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1988, assigned to service in the First Appellate District in 1993, and elected an Appellate Judge of the First Appellate District in 1994 where he presently serves in the 6th Division. Judge Hoffman received the John Marshall Law School's "Distinguished Alumni" award in 1988 and was president of the school's alumni association in 1996. He is a member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers and the Chicago Inn of Court. Judge Hoffman is married to Judge Margarita Kulys Hoffman. He has four children.