Experienced Judge since 2011
Accolades
The City of Evanston honored Judge Jean-Baptiste awarding him with a Key to the City in 2021 for his lifelong commitment to the upliftment of the Evanston community and by naming a street in his honor in 2022 as the “The Hon. Lionel Jean-Baptiste Way” for his services as an attorney, an Alderman, a community organizer and a Judge.
Judicial Experience
Judge Jean-Baptiste was appointed to the bench on March 4, 2011 and elected by voters in November 2012 to a full term. He is also the first Haitian-American Judge in the State of Illinois. He is assigned to the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where he presides over the entire spectrum of family matters including unmarried parents’ responsibilities to their children dissolution of marriages and post decree cases. His previous judicial assignments include parentage and child support matters in the Domestic Relations Division and traffic matters in the 1st Municipal District.
Legal Experience
Prior to becoming a Judge, Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste was in private civil practice for 20 years.
Education
IIT-Chicago Kent Law School (J.D.); Princeton University (B.A. in Political Science and Certificate in African-American History); Evanston Township High School, Evanston, IL.
Awards
National Haitian-American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON): “Excellence Award” 2024 & 2023;
“Leadership Award” 2019;
“Lifetime Achievement Award” 2021;
”Haitian American Nurses Association, “Community Achievement Award for Extraordinary Service and Dedication” 2023; Du Sable Heritage Association,” In Acknowledgement of distinguished service to the community thus exemplifying the legacy of Jean-Baptiste Pointe Du Sable” 2022 ;
Chicagoland and the Midwest Community, “Give Me My Roses” 2022;
Commissioner Jean Monestime: “Public Service Leadership Award” 2018;
Membership
Chicago Bar Association;
Cook County Bar Association,
Haitian-American Lawyers Association (Founding Member),
Illinois Judges Association,
Illinois Judicial Council (Scholarship Committee Member),
National Haitian American Elected Officials Network,
Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti (Founder Member);
Canal Park Neighbors (Neighborhood group);
NAACP.