Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Cushing as At-Large Circuit Judge of Cook County

The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Thomas M. Cushing as an at-large Cook County circuit judge.

Cushing was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Nicholas R. Ford on April 12. The appointment is effective June 19 and will conclude Dec. 7, 2020, when the position will be filled by the November 2020 General Election.

Cushing has served as of counsel for Christopher A. Kreid & Assoc. for the last six years, where he focused on general civil litigation and chancery matters. He also was the principal at Thomas M. Cushing, LLC for 13 years. He previously spent 17 years at Ambrose & Cushing, PC, where he was a trial and appellate attorney focused on civil litigation, with a concentration on complex professional and municipal liability. 

Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended Cushing's appointment after he was previously reviewed by bar associations and a special judicial screening committee. Cushing received highly qualified or recommended ratings from a dozen bar groups. The special judicial screening committee was established by Justice Theis in 2013 and includes several members of the legal community.

Cushing earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and received his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University School of Law.