Experienced Judge since 2006
The Chicago Bar Association said of Judge McHale: “Judge McHale is well regarded for his knowledge of the law, judicial ability and fine temperament.” Judge McHale has always received ratings of Qualified, Recommended or Highly Recommended and has never received a negative rating from any bar association.
Judge McHale was elected by the voters to the bench in 2006. He was retained by the voters in 2012 and, again in 2018. He has been assigned to the Criminal Division at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court House at 26th Street & California Avenue since 2010 and has run a full felony call since 2013 where he has heard 1000’s of cases. His previous assignments include working with the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division where he heard expungement and sealing cases, Certificates of Innocence, mental fitness hearings and Sexually Violent Person (SVP) hearings and trials. He sat in Domestic Violence Court from 2007-2010 where he heard many trials and issued 100’s of Orders of Protection.
Prior to becoming a judge, he worked as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney for 15 years primarily in the Cold Case Homicide Unit and, also as a supervisor in the Preliminary Hearings Unit.
Judge McHale received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1991 and a B.S. in Criminal Justice (cum laude) from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1987.
He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC). He is also a member of the Illinois Judges Association and a Charter Member of the Alliance of Illinois Judges.