Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans to Speak During Black History Month Event

Dominican University will welcome Timothy C. Evans, chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, as its keynote speaker for Black History Month.

Evans will speak on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in Martin Recital Hall.

Evans is the first African American to serve as chief judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. He has held this position since 2001 and was elected to his eighth term in 2022. He is responsible for setting policies for the court, overseeing approximately 400 judges and 2,600 employees within the court’s 10 divisions, and managing an annual budget of $296 million.

Evans has been a judge since 1992. He also served as alderman of Chicago’s 4th Ward for 18 years and was the City Council floor leader and finance chair under Mayor Harold Washington.

Organizations hosting Evans’ visit at Dominican are the Black World Studies Academic Club, the Office of Justice Equity and Inclusion, and the Center for Cultural Liberation.

Dominican University is holding a series of events in February to mark Black History Month. These include a discussion on racial disparities in land and property ownership in Chicago with city planner and community leader Kelwin Harris; an interfaith and antiracism dinner and panel; food and music festivals; live performances from Hiplet Ballerinas and Juan de Marcos and Afro-Cuban All Stars; and Affinity Circles for Black students, faculty and staff to gather and share experiences.