Matthew Taylor (Illinois)

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Matthew Taylor

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Hoffman Estates High School

Bachelor's

Illinois State University, 1992

Law

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, 2004

Personal

Birthplace

Lansing, Mich.

Profession

Attorney and Professor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Instagram

Matthew Taylor (Republican Party) ran for election for the 12th Subcircuit judge of the Cook County Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Taylor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Matthew Taylor was born in Lansing, Michigan. He earned a high school diploma from Hoffman Estates High School, a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University in 1992, and a law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2004. He also attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His career experience includes working as an attorney and professor.

Taylor has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• Northwest Suburban Bar Association
• Palatine Police and Fire Benevolent Association

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Cook County, Illinois (2024)

General election

General election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

James Costello defeated Matthew Taylor in the general election for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Costello (D)	58.0	64,786
		Matthew Taylor (R)	42.0	46,983

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 111,769
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

James Costello advanced from the Democratic primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Costello	100.0	17,091

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,091
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

Matthew Taylor advanced from the Republican primary for Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit on March 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Matthew Taylor	100.0	7,055

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,055
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Taylor in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Matthew Taylor completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Taylor's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I joined the Palatine Police Department in 1994. I wanted to help people, and my father, a police chief, had instilled in me a commitment to public service. I attended the John Marshall Law School at night while working as a police officer, I graduated and passed the bar in 2004. From 2004 to 2017, I continued to serve as a police officer while also building my law practice. My practice includes municipal prosecution, criminal/traffic defense, real estate, and estate planning. I have utilized my combined education in law and my experiences as a police officer, to become a college professor and instructor at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy; I teach constitutional law, criminal procedure, and criminal law. In 2023, I decided to continue my service to the Cook County community by running for judge in the 12th subcircuit of the Cook County Circuit Court.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Fair and Unbiased - I will be an unbiased and impartial judge who will listen carefully to the facts of each case and apply Illinois law to those facts to make fair and just rulings.
• Equal Access to Justice – All who appear in court should be treated equally and afforded the same rights and protections as provided by the U.S. Constitution, and the laws of Illinois. I will ensure every plaintiff, defendant, witness, or victim has full access to the rights guaranteed to them before the court.
• Service – I have over 30 years of service to the northwest suburbs of Cook County. I will follow the rule of law in all cases, and I will not be influenced by public outcry or personal feelings.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Justice is a key issue that encompasses the rule of law, equal access for all, and the requirement that judges be impartial and unbiased towards issues and participants before the bench.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have patience, compassion, and an understanding of law and procedure. I get along well with people from all backgrounds. I am experienced in evaluating the credibility of statements made by various sources. I recognize the need for a variety of leadership styles. I strive to ensure that all people understand the expectations and consequences of our legal system.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Judges need to understand the law, court procedures, and rules of evidence. A judge has to be an agile courtroom manager who can balance the demands of the cases before the bench, the needs and obligations of those appearing in court, and should promote civility amongst and between all parties.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Apollo 13 crisis took place when I was three. I remember my parents let me and my siblings stay up late to watch on TV as the crew successfully reentered Earth's atmosphere.

What is your favorite book? Why?

To Kill A Mockingbird. The character of Atticus Finch is a fantastic example of a person who knows the right thing to do, and while he understands that his peers and neighbors will likely disagree with him, he does the right thing anyway. The idea that a lawyer could take on their community, go against society’s norms and customs, and fight for what he believes inspired me to want to be a lawyer.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

It should be the judge’s aim to apply the law to the facts of each case, regardless of who are parties to the case, and without influence from public sentiment or personal beliefs. The legislature creates our laws; representatives are elected by the citizens and they pass the laws to be enforced in the state. It is not a judge’s domain to choose which laws to follow and which to ignore – this is a foundational concept of the U.S. Constitution.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Understanding and sharing the feelings of another person is an honorable goal. However, the role of a judge is to weigh the facts and apply the law to those facts, this should be done consistently and clearly so all who appear before the court know and understand the law and its application.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

My careers have included working as a government employee and a public servant. I know that these experiences have helped to shape my understanding of the law, the justice system, and the needs and demands of stakeholders in the justice system. A background like mine is a unique combination of knowledge and participation in various areas that contribute to my qualifications for this office. I have benefitted from my previous experiences and my resume will bring a well-balanced perspective to the bench.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

The Italian American Police Association.

Judge Sam Amirante (ret), Judge James Etchingham (ret), Judge Pamela Karahalios (ret), Judge Richard Kavitt (ret), Judge Randye Kogan (ret), Judge James McGing (ret), Judge Clare McWilliams (ret), Judge Ann O'Donnell (ret), Judge Ketki Steffen (ret), Judge John Tourtelot (ret).
Palatine Trustee Jack Wagner (ret).
Inverness Police Chief Robert Haas (ret), Mount Prospect Police Chief John Koziol (ret), Palatine Police Chief Alan Stoeckel (ret), Palatine Police Chief David Daigle (ret).

Northfield Township Republican Organization; Palatine Township Republican Organization; Republican Organization of Wheeling Township.

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

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Government

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External links

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Candidate

Cook County Circuit Court 12th Subcircuit

Website

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Personal

Instagram

Footnotes

Illinois courts

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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