Experienced Judge since 2017
The Honorable Toya T. Harvey was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County by the Illinois Supreme Court on March 2017, and was elected a Cook County Circuit Court Judge in the 2 nd Judicial Subcircuit in November 2018. Judge Harvey currently presides over a jury trial call in the Law Division located in the Daley Center. In this position she presides over jury trials in civil matters including personal injury, FELA, medical malpractice, construction, contract and other civil matters with values over $50,000. Her prior assignments include the First Municipal Civil Jury Division, Evictions and Traffic Division.
Prior to being appointed Circuit Court Judge, Judge Harvey was an attorney in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender for over 20 years. As an Assistant Public Defender, she represented clients in the First Municipal District misdemeanor and preliminary hearing courts, the Child Protection Division, and misdemeanor, domestic relations, juvenile justice, and felony courtrooms of the Sixth Municipal District. She departed from the office as a member of the Suburban Homicide Taskforce. Additionally, Judge Harvey represented clients in real estate transactions.
In addition to her judicial assignments, serves as a faculty member, course supervisor and work group committee co-chairman for the Illinois Judicial Education Conference. She is also a member of the Civil IPI Committee by appointment from the Illinois Supreme Court. Judge Harvey serves as the Co-Chairman of the Chicago Bar Foundation Pro Se Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois Judicial Council, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, and American Bar Association. In addition to her judicial memberships, she is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., National Coalition of 100 Black Women, NAACP and National Council of Negro Women.
Judge Harvey has received several awards and honors for her judicial and community service. Judge Harvey received the 2024 Women Making History Award from the Chicago Midwest Section Chapter of the NCNW, 2021 Illinois Judicial Council Distinguished Service Award, 2021 Illinois Judges Foundation Award, 2019 LPCC TLOD Crown Jewel Award Recipient, 2019 Community Service Award from Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. Service Organization, 2017 Cook County Bar Association Judicial Award.
Judge Harvey, a lifelong resident of Cook County’s South Suburbs, is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Boyd College of Law and Western Illinois University where she received her Bachelor of Arts.