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    IeshiaGray CandidateSurvey

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    Injustice Watch
    Injustice Watch invited 2018 judicial candidates to complete a questionnaire.

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    IeshiaGray CandidateSurvey

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    Injustice Watch
    85 views3 pages
    Injustice Watch invited 2018 judicial candidates to complete a questionnaire.

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    IeshiaGray_CandidateSurvey

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    Injustice Watch invited 2018 judicial candidates to complete a questionnaire.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    85 views3 pages

    IeshiaGray CandidateSurvey

    Uploaded by

    Injustice Watch
    Injustice Watch invited 2018 judicial candidates to complete a questionnaire.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    INJUSTICE WATCH – JUDICIAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

    1. Name (State full name and any former names used)

    Ieshia Gray (married name)


    Ieshia Haynes (maiden name)

    2. Age

    40

    3. Education (List schools, years attended, and degrees received)

    Augustana College/ dual B.A. degree in Economics and Public Administration, May 1999
    Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, MO/J.D., May 2002

    4. Current occupation and employer

    Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, 69 W. Washington, 16​th​ Floor, Chicago IL 60608
    Attorney (assigned to the Felony Trial Division in Markham, IL)

    5. Current hometown, and neighborhood if Chicago. If subcircuit candidate: How long have you lived
    there?

    Current resident of Homewood, Illinois since 2016


    Previous resident of Chicago since 2002
    Previous resident of the Chicago neighborhood of Morgan Park since 2008

    6. Work history (List with years)

    Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender


    Employed from Jan. 2004 thru present

    Circuit Court of Cook County


    Judicial Court Coordinator Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2004

    7. In what areas of law do you have experience?

    I have been an attorney with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender since January of 2004.
    During that time, I have litigated cases in the Child Protection, Misdemeanor, and Felony Trial Divisions.
    I have been assigned to the Felony Trial Division of my office for over ten years. As a result, I have
    acquired extensive court room experience litigating the most complex of cases. These cases require a
    wide knowledge of the law and an ability to analyze legal issues competently.

    In my career, I have had to either direct or cross examine countless expert witnesses, ranging from
    medical doctors, to psychologists, and forensic scientists. Litigating complex felony cases means that my
    litigation experience extends beyond trial but also includes a rigorous motion practice. However, my
    experience does not end in the criminal defense area. In the civil division, I have conducted several
    depositions of expert witnesses, in addition to litigating numerous civil bench trials and contested
    motions.

    As part of my career, I have also represented real estate clients acting as their real estate attorney. I fell in
    love with assisting clients obtaining their piece of the American dream and in 2007 became a licensed real
    estate broker, where I help clients purchase or sell their homes.

    Overall, these experiences have given me an extensive court room knowledge and aptly prepared me to
    take on the role of Judge.

    8. List your bar association memberships​.

    Chicago Bar Association (current)


    Black Women Lawyers Association (current)
    Cook County Bar Association (current)
    Illinois State Bar Association (past)

    9. List all professional, business, fraternal, scholarly, civic, charitable, or other organizations to which
    you belong.

    Park Manor Christian Church member


    Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
    AFSCME, local 3515

    10. Describe your civic involvement.

    Throughout my legal career, I have served my community. I have volunteered with the Boys and Girls
    Club of Chicago, with the Chesterfield Community Council, the 34​th​ ward legal clinic, the Salem Baptist
    church Vision to Action Legal clinic, and the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers.

    11. Describe your current and former political involvement.

    I am Democrat. I have never ran for office.

    12. Have you run for judge before? When and for which seat?

    No.

    13. List your published writings, with dates and with links if available.

    None.

    14. Why do you want to be a Cook County judge?

    I am running for judge because I believe that justice in our legal system should include everyone, no
    matter where you live, what neighborhood you are from, or how you look. I have spent the last fifteen
    years inside the court room fighting for the rights of the voiceless, poor and working class. That court
    room experience coupled with my commitment to the community gives me a unique understanding of
    how our legal system impacts everyone, including the families and the communities those families call
    home. I believe firmly that justice is about people and not politics. As a judge, I promise to treat
    everyone that enters my courtroom with dignity, respect, and fairness. Those are the ideals that have
    compelled me to run for judge.

    15. What are the most pressing issues facing the justice system and why?

    I have a philosophy that justice should include everyone, no matter how much wealth you have attained.
    In that vein, I believe that the current dialogue concerning bond being too high for the poor in comparison
    to the charged case, is productive and promotes fairness in the system. No person should have to plea
    guilty to a minor offense because they do not have the monetary means to post bond.

    16. How will your experiences help you serve as a good judge?

    I have spent my career inside the court room learning the law and court room procedure. My work has
    given me a compassion for people. I understand that as a judge, I represent and serve the community.
    Moreover, I am an experienced attorney with a proven track record. I have litigated complex criminal
    matters in front of juries and judges. I believe firmly that my life journey and professional experiences
    have aptly prepared me to take on the role of judge and to serve.

    17. What do you wish voters knew about you?

    I come from a working class family. I learned to value hard work and work ethic while young. My father
    is a retired marine and union worker. After I began college, my mother was encouraged to attend school
    and became a proud union member as a licensed practical nurse.

    Those guiding principles of hard work and work ethic are why I am a proud union member. It is also why
    I have a deep connection to the poor and working-class in our communities. As the oldest child, I was the
    first in my family to graduate from a four year college and the first to attend law school. I am the only
    attorney in my family.

    When you are the first, there are sometimes hard lessons that you learn along the way. My mother was
    pregnant with me at the young age of fifteen. While she was pregnant with me, she buried her own
    mother. I am sure she never imagined then that the daughter she was carrying would become an attorney
    and run for judge. I am proud that the product of such humble beginnings is now in the run for judge.

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