Frank Andreou
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Frank Andreou (Democratic Party) is a judge for the 12th Subcircuit of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. He assumed office on December 2, 2024. His current term ends on December 2, 2030.
Andreou (Democratic Party) ran for election for the 12th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Andreou completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Frank Andreou was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a high school diploma from Glenbrook South High School and a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in 1992. His career experience includes working as a judge. Andreou has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- The Order of Themis
- Hellenic Bar Association
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois
- North Suburban Bar Association
- Illinois Judges Association
- United States Supreme Court Bar Association
- Alliance of Illinois Judges; Illinois Judicial Council
Elections
2024
See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)
General election
General election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit
Frank Andreou defeated Pamela Curran Smith in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Frank Andreou (D)  | 56.2 | 63,564 |
 | Pamela Curran Smith (R) | 43.8 | 49,620 | |
| Total votes: 113,184 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit
Frank Andreou advanced from the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Frank Andreou | 100.0 | 17,074 |
| Total votes: 17,074 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit
Pamela Curran Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Pamela Curran Smith | 100.0 | 6,870 |
| Total votes: 6,870 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Andreou in this election.
2016
Illinois held a primary election for local judicial offices on March 15, 2016.[2] Marguerite Quinn defeated Jennifer Bae, Frank Andreou, and Louis Apostol in the Illinois Cook County Twelfth Subcircuit Court Democratic Primary.[3]
| Cook County Twelfth Subcircuit Court, Kazmierski Vacancy, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Marguerite Quinn |
44.89% | 18,067 |
| Jennifer Bae | 30.71% | 12,360 |
| Frank Andreou | 12.45% | 5,012 |
| Louis Apostol | 11.94% | 4,807 |
| Total Votes | 40,246 | |
| Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, "Primary Election Results: Judicial," accessed June 13, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan elections
There are 513 judges on the Illinois Circuit Court, each elected in partisan elections to six-year terms. Upon the completion of these terms, judges who wish to continue serving must compete in uncontested, nonpartisan retention elections.[4]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote; he or she serves in that capacity indefinitely.[4]
The circuit courts are also served by 391 associate judges, who are limited in that they may not preside over cases in which the defendant is charged with a felony (an offense punishable by one or more years in prison). Associate judges are appointed to four-year terms by circuit judges.[5][4]
Midterm vacancies are filled by Illinois Supreme Court appointment.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[4]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a circuit/county resident; and
- licensed to practice law in Illinois.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Frank Andreou completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Andreou's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am currently hold the Office of Associate Judge and was administered my Oath of Office in 2020. I was among the first judges to preside over a fully virtual courtroom during the Pandemic and have seen first hand the changes to the court system since courts were shut down. I currently hear jury trial cases in matters involving personal injury and wrongful death. I have also presided over dockets involving traffic cases, misdemeanors, felonies, bonds and preliminary hearings, orders of protection, domestic violence matters and civil matters. I have also performed weddings and approved search and arrest warrants. I come from over 22 years of practice as an attorney having served as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney, worked in a large law firm, and ran my own litigation law firm for almost 19 years. I believe in public service having served as an elected school board member in my local school district. I am married with two children and a resident or Northbrook, Illinois. I am a member of many bar associations and work to inform the public about our courts and how they can be improved.
- "Implicit bias" is a term I have learned. As part of my training and continuing judicial education, I have been focused on learning to identify implicit bias and
root it out of my courtroom. I grew up having been fortunate enough to have not faced any biases or discrimination myself but over time, in my practice as an attorney and as a judge, I have seen first hand how bias and implicit bias can deprive certain litigants of fair and impartial access to justice and the courts. I have first looked inward to make sure that I address any biases that I may have. I then work every day to make sure that all who appear before me are
treated fairly and understand the process and ensure access to the courts for all. - A vast majority of litigants in our court system are self-represented. The cost of representation is one of the greatest hurdles to people seeking an attorney and often people opt to go it alone. Traffic court cases, eviction and debt collection matters are typically where the largest number of self-represented litigants are forced to go it alone. As a judge, I have encouraged attorneys to participate in legal clinics or take on pro bono work to assist these litigants navigate the legal system. My hope is that some day attorneys can earn mandatory continuing legal education credit hours when they volunteer their time to pro bono work. I want to remove as many barriers to court access as I can.
- During my tenure as a judge, I have become more sensitive to the public's perception of our justice system. The public has become much more cynical of the judicial process and have called into question the impartiality of the judges who hear their cases. It appears that unprecedented political polarization has seeped into the courts. To me, a pressing issue is restoring trust and faith in our judicial system and keeping it free from any type of bias, either implicit or explicit. For example, I have the ability to speak directly to jurors during trial and instruct them on the inherent impropriety of unfair bias. Further, my aim is to remind everyone who appears before me that they will be provided with an objective forum.
As stated above, my personal passion is to ensure that the integrity of the courts is protected and that I do all I can to remain impartial, fair and respectful at all times to all who appear in my courtroom. I am a firm believer in the Constitutional safeguards provided to all and am committed to providing a forum where all will receive due process to the fullest extent the law allows.
I look up to my grandfather, Frank, after whom I am named. He came to the United States in the early 1920s from Greece and spoke no English. He shined shoes at a train station at first but found a job as a machinist assistant. He sent money back to his family in Greece and helped so many in his community since he was one of the few people around him who kept working during the Great Depression. My dad benefited by being the first to attend college and then my dad provided the same opportunity for me. If my grandfather had not taken that brave step of going to a foreign land for a better life, the opportunities that I have had simply would not exist. I wish he were alive today to see that I am dedicating my campaign to him.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee exposes the true effect of bias on the integrity of the courts. There, an innocent man was convicted of a crime he did not commit by a jury of people who had their own horrible biases in a system in which that individual could not even serve as a juror. It is a stark reminder of the some of the most ugly aspects of our judicial history and a reminder of how outcomes can be affected by vile biases that still exist today in some respects. I am constantly working to ensure that our system remains fair and impartial.
Humility. One of my mentor judges told me that becoming a judge does not change who you are, it amplifies who you were. So for example, nice people become nicer, and arrogant people become more arrogant. Another infliction often suffered by a judge is "Robe-itis" which simply means that donning the robe turns one into an insufferable and pompous loudmouth. One must always remember the tremendous authority that comes with the robe and how unique a judge's power truly is. A judge can singlehandedly change a parties' life with the stroke of a pen. Also, a judge sitting up high on a bench in a black robe can be intimidating to people who appear in court. A judge should always strive to be humble, fair and impartial and remove some of the factors of intimidation a courtroom setting provides while also protecting the formality and integrity of the process. It is important for a judge to remember that the role of judge is not about the person wearing the robe but the integrity of what wearing the robe represents.
I truly believe that I am fortunate that I am a judge and understanding how critical my work is keeps me disciplined and focused. So long as the public puts its trust in me to hold this office, I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities.
Be respectful of people's time; show up early. Be prepared; know the law and read everything people file. Be able to make a decision without hesitation; people are relying on you for guidance and an order. People who lack confidence in their ability to make a decision should not hold the office of judge.
I want to be remembered as a judge who inspired others to seek this office. I have mentored many attorneys through the process of becoming a judge. I want to be remembered as someone who was always willing to help others make the judiciary better.
Strangely enough, I started to read Time Magazine at the age of 8 and my first memory of a historical event was the Jonestown Massacre which occurred in 1978. The cover of that issue is still etched in my brain. I also recall the meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979 and the images of the school buses evacuating people from near the reactor.
When I was ten years-old, I worked in my grandmother's restaurant as a busboy for a summer. Since it was my grandmother's place, I did not get paid but she cooked all of the food herself so I got to enjoy her amazing cooking.
To Kill a Mockingbird. It angered me so much and inspired me to pursue a career in law. In my previous life as a practicing attorney, I tried to mirror Atticus Finch's commitment to justice and at one point, I had an employment case that lasted for 8 years. I refused to give up because I believed in my client's cause. But after seeing the movie, I would opt to cast someone shorter, like Tom Cruise, since I not that tall.
Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan. His commitment to a mission to save one remaining son was an act of selflessness that I admire.
Take it to the Limit by the Eagles. I have no idea why.
Personally, I believe a judge has the responsibility to identify when a fellow judge or attorney appearing in their courtroom exhibits signs of mental health issues or addiction and to know when an intervention by trained professionals may be in order. I know of at least five attorneys who took their own lives and several who have fallen prey to addiction or mental breakdown. Being an attorney is an extremely stressful position since it is rare when someone comes to see you with good news; especially when you are a litigator. It is far too easy for attorneys to personalize their clients' cases and burnout. Turning to drugs or alcohol or simply not knowing when a mental breakdown is coming are some of the dangers of our profession. I am not a trained mental health professional but I have presented people who are to my fellow judges and attorneys so that we can identify and address these issues. I believe that a judge should take action when a party is noted to be in distress and take action by making an anonymous report to agencies like the Lawyers' Assistance Program.
I simply believe that there is no room for preconceived notions for a judge. I stress the importance of impartiality and each person starts at the same starting line. I prejudge nothing and wait to hear all of the evidence and read all of the applicable law before ruling on anything.
Judge Martin Agran is a judge that I admire because he was one of the first judges I appeared before as a young prosecutor. Judge Agran taught me the virtue of admitting when I have made a mistake by an example he set. Judge Agran had ruled on a motion I had filed but I truly felt he misapplied the law. I filed a Motion to Reconsider and Judge Agran not only reversed himself, he apologized for having misread the law. He taught me humility which is a trait every judge should possess. I welcome the opportunity to have to further explain my position and do not get offended when attorneys ask me to reconsider a ruling. Judge Agran taught me the importance of self correction, even if it means having to admit you are wrong. Many judges, unfortunately, do not possess that trait and will lash out at attorneys who dare question them. Humility is the key to public service. I learned that from Judge Agran.
Empathy is crucial so long as it does not interfere with a judge's impartiality. A judge should always try to understand where the litigant is situated in life. A language barrier, fear of the courts, previous biases are simple examples of what a judge must be aware of in order to better understand the parties that appear before them. The point is to ensure that all are treated fairly and simply empathizing with people may help the judge to do so.
I have been rated and have been found "Highly Qualified" or "Highly Recommended" by the Illinois State Bar Association, the Decalogue Society of Illinois and LAGBAC. All of the remaining bar associations have found me "Qualified" or "Recommended"
I want to be a circuit court judge since as an associate judge, I have no ability to nominate or vote for the Chief Judge of Cook County nor can I vote for the associate judges. I would like to someday become a presiding judge of a division so that I can assist in improving the administration of the courts; I cannot be a presiding judge as an associate judge.
Several of my colleagues have left the public sector and joined me on the bench. Assistant State's Attorneys, Public Defenders, Assistant Attorneys General are just some of the types of attorneys who become judges. I myself have had experience in the public sector. I sincerely believe that these types of attorneys have a commitment to public service having foregone the higher salaries of private practice and making monetary sacrifices for public service. They bring a unique perspective to the bench and make great judges.
The primary concern is the perception that all judges are biased or cater to the rich. It is incumbent on judges to maintain impartiality and diligently advocate for courts that are fair.
From out of the disruption of Covid came innovations to the judicial system that were long overdue. First, the use of Zoom and remote court access has saved an enormous amount of time and money in travel and time from work for those who must appear in traffic court and for routine matters. Additionally, electronic dockets and filing have eliminated the need for paper files and have reduced the frequency of lost or misfiled documents. The innovations have made the court system more accessible and effective while still allowing for the underserved or those lacking technology to still appear in person and file paper documents. We can continue to improve access to the courts and the efficient administration of our courts.
At this point, I am content service at the Circuit Court level. There simply is no substitute for interacting directly with the public and presiding over jury trials. The anticipation of the jury's deliberation and verdict after having witnessed all the hard work and preparation by the parties make this level of the judiciary the most exciting. At some point, an elevation to the Court of Appeals may be in order but for now, jury trials are my preference.
I have served both as an investigator for the Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) of the Chicago Bar Association and Hellenic Bar Association and as a member of the JEC. I believe that the bar ratings are necessary and are an accurate reflection of a judge's ability in general. Attorneys who have appeared before the judge are interviewed and their responses kept confidential. A real deep analysis into a candidate's abilities, temperament among other factors is conducted. Of course, an attorney may have a particular axe to grind with a judge but in that case, the judge will be given an opportunity to address any harsh criticisms in an actual interview. I believe these are some of the most objective standards that are based on true ability of the judge and are very important.
Probably not the forum to tell it!
Chicago Federation of Labor, Personal PAC, AMVote Pac, Indo-American Pac, Hellenic American Police Association, Local 399 Operating Engineers, IBEW Local 134, LiUNA!
Illinois State Court Judges are required to file two separate Statements of Economic Interest: one with the Illinois Secretary of State; and, one with the Illinois Supreme Court. We disclose our financial holdings to ensure transparency and a request can be filed with either agency to obtain a copy of those disclosures. They are necessary to ensure that no financial biases are exhibited by the judges who may have a financial stake in the outcome of a case over which the judge presides.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 23, 2024
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "2016 Election Schedule and Registration Deadlines," accessed October 26, 2016
- ↑ Illinois Judges, "Announced Vacancies for the Primary and General Elections 2016," accessed December 21, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Illinois," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ State of Illinois, "About the Courts in Illinois," accessed June 30, 2014
Illinois courts
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois
State courts:
Illinois Supreme Court • Illinois Appellate Court • Illinois Circuit Court
State resources:
Courts in Illinois • Illinois judicial elections • Judicial selection in Illinois
